Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger has his players' backs, that's for sure. Prior to Tuesday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks and rookie phenom Luka Doncic, Joerger won't have any of the noise surrounding Doncic and the league's Rookie of the Year Award, instead choosing Marvin Bagley III, via Dwain Price of Mavs.com.
“I have the Rookie of the Year on my roster.”
While I'm not sure if Bagley III would even choose himself as the league's Rookie of the Year over Doncic, but kudos to Joerger for up-selling his big man, who has been an ace off the bench, especially as of late.
There is no denying that in the 11 games since returning from the All-Star break, Bagley III has played like a Rookie of the Year candidate, averaging 20.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor overall. But over the course of the year, those numbers deflate to 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, having started just two of the 54 contests that he has appeared in.
As a means of comparison, Doncic enters play Tuesday averaging 21 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, including 2.4 made triples on a nightly basis and has started all 68 games he has appeared in for Dallas.
Sacramento certainly sees a bright future in Bagley, whom they selected with the second overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, just ahead of Doncic. While the club has had to listen to whispers about passing on Doncic, Bagley III appears to be finding his level during his rookie campaign.
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