Grizzlies' Ja Morant runaway NBA Rookie of the Year winner
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is no longer the uncrowned 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year.
The 21-year-old officially won the award, as expected, via a decision that wasn't all that close. As noted by Marc Stein of the New York Times, Morant earned 99 out of 100 first-place votes and finished on 498 points:
Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn, one of the positive surprises of the campaign that was temporarily suspended on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic, finished second with 204 points. New Orleans Pelicans rookie sensation Zion Williamson rounded out the top three with 140 points and a single first-place vote even though he debuted in January after an October knee operation sidelined him for roughly three months.
Morant led all rookies in assists per game (7.3) and finished behind only Williamson (22.5 PPG) in scoring (17.8 PPG). No rookie had more field goals (447) or points (1,193).
Per the Association's official website, Morant, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets were the only players averaging at least 17.0 points and 6.0 assists while shooting 49.0 percent or better from the field when the league halted play in March.
Morant is the second Grizzlies player to win Rookie of the Year. Pau Gasol achieved the feat for the 2001-02 campaign.
Memphis' season ended on Aug. 15 after the club failed to qualify for the postseason tournament.
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