There cannot be an easier award to vote for this season than Rookie of the Year.
Even though LeBron James will take home the Most Valuable Player honors, small cases could be made for Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and a few others. But among the rookies, one youngster stands out more than anyone else and his path to this prestigious award is sure to be wide open in what should be a unanimous, land-slide victory.
His name is Damian Lillard.
Lillard has had a spectacular season for the Blazers; reigniting a fan base that was still bothered by the loss of Brandon Roy from the long-term plans (and projected success) in Portland.
Though the 2012-13 campaign in the Pacific Northwest is coming to a horrific end (via an 11-game losing streak), there have been plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a team once known in many basketball circles as the Jail Blazers.
Lillard is at the root of everything and everyone that is now right in Portland. He is the athletic, scoring guard that every team wants in today’s NBA. He’s durable, deceptive, and dangerous — and decent on defense too.
After going sixth overall in the 2012 draft, the Weber State product has exceeded all expectations — especially considering the fact that he’s running the point, in the West, at such a young age. He has won the Rookie of the Month honors in his Conference every month this season and he could be well on his way to a clean sweep with April’s award as well.
Lillard appeared in all of Portland’s 82 games and has given the Blazers coaching staff and management team plenty to be excited about as you gloss over his stats:
2012-13 averages: 19 PPG, 6.5 APG, 3.1 RPG, 42.9% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 84.4% FT.
This should be a land-slide win for Lillard, but for the purpose of filling out your ballots and giving at least a little bit of love to the rookies that have turned in terrific seasons too:
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets
2012-13 averages: 13.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.8 blocks. 51.6% FG and 75.1% FT.
His frail frame has held up for the most part and he’s going to have a spectacular career. Davis’ defence may have made the biggest impression on folks around the NBA.
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
2012-13 averages: 13.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 41.0% FG, 38.6% 3PT, and 78.6% FT.
Injuries have prevented Beal from playing more than 56 games, and he’s on the shelf right now with a stress fracture in his leg. A long-term 1-2 punch of Beal and John Wall is reason to be optimistic in D.C. though.
Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers
2012-13 averages: 14.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3 assists, 1 steals, 45.4% FG, and 74.5 FT%.
Like Beal, injuries have prevented Waiters from truly being in serious consideration for this award but he has proven to be a quality scorer at this level. That said, when teammate Kyrie Irving was out of the Cavaliers line-up, Waiters’ scoring and his ability to run the point kept Cleveland afloat.
Other notable rookies in 2012-13: Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors; Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors; and Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons.