The NBA Rookie of the Year race is heating up with less than two months left in the regular season. Zion Williamson is red-hot for the New Orleans Pelicans but with less than two dozen games played so far due to injury, does the NBA Draft’s number one pick get the award for a limited showing? NBA fans can see Williamson and the Pelicans in action on March 7th against the Miami Heat to judge for themselves if the rookie should win the award. Basketball fans can visit Efirbet to get a bet bonus and wager on the team they believe will win when the Pelicans play the Heat.
NBA Rookie of the Year Race Heating Up
5 – Coby White, Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White has struggled with consistency all season long. His volatility for the Bulls is the reason for having such long odds to win the Rookie of the Year, according to leading sportsbooks. White has made a recent claim to win the award thanks to a hot streak. White is averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Still, White hasn’t done enough to win the award.
4 – RJ Barrett, New York Knicks
New York Knicks fans hoped RJ Barrett would lead the team into a new era. Unfortunately, the same old losing era exists in New York even with the former Duke Blue Devil. Barrett may not be getting much love from NBA fans and pundits, but his numbers are still just as good as many of the other rookies. Barrett is averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He has played over 1,480 NBA minutes, which is fifth-most in the current rookie class.
3 – Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat
Point guard Kendrick Nunn is the Miami Heat’s new star point guard. The rookie has a long way to go to fill Dwyane Wade’s shoes but so far, he has impressed. Nunn is averaging 15.8 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc. Miami has been labeled as the “second-best team in the East” and Nunn’s performances have been a big part of the team’s play. Although the Heat have struggled post-All-Star game, Nunn has continued to play well.
2 – Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
Right now, the NBA Rookie of the Year is a two-horse race. Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant and Williamson are flip-flopping places in the race for the award. Morant is averaging 17.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. His play is helping Memphis win games, which is exactly what an impact rookie should do. Memphis is fighting for a playoff place and Morant could lead the team to the postseason with his unselfish play.
1 – Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
No rookie is playing better than Williamson. Now fully healthy, Williamson is playing lights out basketball. The problem most NBA Rookie of the Year voters will have selecting Williamson for the award is the time he missed due to injury. Williamson has played just over 370 minutes. In that short time, however, he has averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. If Williamson stays hot, the Pelicans could make the playoffs and he could win the Rookie of the Year award.
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