Jayson Tatum has been one of the most spectacular rookies this spectacular NBA season. His exemplary 3-point shooting has made him a more than reliable starter for the East powerhouse Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, the race for the league's prestigious Rookie of the Year award is looking as close as its ever been.
Donovan Mitchell and Ben Simmons are currently lighting the league up, so there is a large degree of uncertainty as to who will claim the award. Rightfully so, both players deserve the hype.
Although Simmons was drafted last year, he has been an indispensable addition for the Sixers. His all-around play has garnered comparisons to the NBA's best player, LeBron James. Simmons is playing so well that many people believe that he is the face of the franchise, rather than Joel Embiid.
Article Continues BelowOn the other hand, Mitchell is taking the Jazz farther than what anyone could have imagined. Mitchell is taking the league by storm, playing in ways that isn't expected of a rookie. While the ROY race is neck and neck, there should be some consideration towards Tatum, who has had a phenomenal season so far. In fact, when asked who he would vote in for Rookie of the Year, Tatum chose himself, per Jared Weiss of The Celtics Wire.
Jayson Tatum asked who he would vote for rookie of the year: “Can I vote for myself? Ok. Myself.”
Jayson Tatum asked who he would vote for rookie of the year: “Can I vote for myself? Ok. Myself.”
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 16, 2018
Voters would be re-missed to not consider Tatum in this year's race. Though, the league is often full of surprises. While he is a dark horse candidate now, Tatum could claim the award over both players by the end of the season.