Despite a brilliant 2017 NBA Draft class, the Rookie of the Year award might not involve any of last year's abundant freshman talent at the end of this upcoming 2017-18 season.
According to ESPN, a series of experts have nearly-unanimously picked Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons as the likely candidate to walk home with the award.
Simmons netted 97.4 percent of the voting, while No. 3 overall selection Jayson Tatum was the lone other choice at 2.6 percent.
Through the first month of the season, favorites like Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks have completely disappeared off the top spots for this coveted award, as Simmons has made history through his first 10 games of the season — becoming the only rookie to ever snatch 100 rebounds and dish out 80 assists in his first 10 games as a pro since the legendary Oscar Robertson.
The 21-year-old point-forward is putting up 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game through his first 14 games, and doing so for an 8-6 Sixers team that seems playoff bound with the myriad of talent in the roster.
Tatum has made the most of his starting spot at small forward and helped lead his Boston Celtics to a 14-2 start to the season — the best record in the NBA.
Follow Us
Subscribe