Paolo Banchero, after crunching all the numbers and assessing what each first-year player has meant to their respective teams, should win the Rookie of the Year award in a landslide, if not unanimously.
He’s been by far and away the best rookie from start to finish.
What’s odd, though, is that some have started tossing others into the conversation for the honor, with claims those candidates – notably Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams and Utah’s Walker Kessler – are finishing their seasons stronger.
Well, that’s not really accurate.
Not only was Banchero substantially better than all other rookies early in the season, but he’s also playing better than each of them down the stretch as well.
Over each team’s last 15 games, Banchero is averaging 21.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range – and remember, 3-point shooting is considered his biggest weakness.
The Magic are 8-7 in this time.
To compare, Williams in this same timeframe is averaging 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
The Thunder are 7-6 in the games Williams appeared in.
While stats are not as significant in Kessler’s case, as he makes his biggest impact with his defensive presence in the paint, it’s still worth mentioning the numbers in this same stretch, which are 13.2 points and 9.9 rebounds.
The Jazz are 5-9 in those 14 games he played in.
Three-point shooting and playmaking have been Banchero’s most improved areas of late. After making just one of his 33 3-point attempts in February, he has made 22 of his 58 tries since March 1 (37.9 percent).
Also, he’s dished out at least five assists in five of his last 11 games, including against the Miami Heat on March 11 when he finished one dime shy of a triple-double.
Banchero being the clear favorite to win the ROY award shouldn’t discredit all that his peers have done this season. In addition to Williams and Kessler, other rookies such as Detroit’s Jaden Ivey, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray, Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr., Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin, San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan, and Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe have also been impressive.
But this narrative that the gap for ROY has tightened is farfetched.
Banchero’s Magic teammate Cole Anthony gave a spot-on response when asked what he would convey to ROY voters.
“I don’t think I really need to tell them much because what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained,” he said.
The five players who won the ROY award unanimously in NBA history were Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Banchero has a chance to join them.
