The top player from each year’s class is honored with the Rookie of the Year award and while the best player gets that recognition, there are always plenty of other particular areas where the other rookies thrive. Here is a look at the specific areas where we expect the best players from this year’s NBA rookie class to thrive this season based on their skill level and situations.
Best Pure Playmaker
Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
There has been every indication that the Nuggets intend to trade Ty Lawson at some point before the season begins. If that’s the case, that will mean Mudiay slides into a starting role with Denver as a rookie. Even if it doesn’t happen before the start of the season, it looks like the marriage is ending, so Lawson could be moved before the deadline too.
Mudiay is known for his athleticism and scoring, but one of the most overlooked aspects of his game is his playmaking ability. And don’t forget that he’s been playing professional ball in China already, so the expectation is that he’s more NBA-ready than some of the other players. Look for Mudiay to shine in Denver’s run-and-gun system. They are short on talent, so that should mean he gets lots of minutes and lots of offensive accolades.
Best Pure Scorer
Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
The Magic have plenty of athletic, hard-working players but their desperation for a pure scorer led to them selecting Mario Hezonja with their first-round pick. He is easily the cockiest player in the draft and that confidence should help him succeed. He will be relied on as a sharpshooter from the outset. Hezonja hit 38.5% of his threes overseas and his ability to pull up and fire off the dribble makes him a unique talent for Orlando. Head coach Scott Skiles doesn’t usually play rookies a whole lot but given the Magic’s situation and that Super Mario looks NBA-ready, he should be a reliable scorer right off the bat.
Best Rebounder
Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota has compiled a pretty impressive young talent base and Anthony-Towns should slot in perfectly in the middle where he will be expected to dominate on the boards. His size and strength is already outstanding and he will be asked to focus on protecting the rim and gathering rebounds while the talented group around him take care of the bulk of the scoring. There is some competition for minutes with Gorgui Deng and Nikola Pekovic already on the team but Towns should see first-line minutes. Towns’ offensive contributions might be limited early on in his career but he should thrive as a rebounder.
Best Defensive Player
Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
The Kings recent addition of Kosta Koufos has made this situation a little less clear but considering his size and strength in the paint, the seven-foot Cauley-Stein is the perfect candidate to dominate from a defensive standpoint. Sacramento ranked 27th in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season and 29th in opponent shooting percentage, so it’s clear they could use an upgrade in the paint. It looks like the Kings will try to play Cauley-Stein next to Cousins, so he should thrive as a defensive weapon if given the opportunity.
2015 NBA Rookie Of The Year
D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
After all of the talk about the Lakers potentially signing free agent Rajon Rondo, their fans had to be ecstatic when the team opted instead to draft Russell second overall. He’ll slot in as the starting point guard. The transition to the NBA is typically easier for guards than big men and Russell’s incredible basketball IQ and skill set make him the perfect candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year honors. He’ll have a great chance to shine as there isn’t much competition for playing time, the team needs him to produce a lot and they don’t have a lot of talent. That’s typically a great combination for a great stat line.
