Charlotte Hornets Round-Table: 2019 NBA Award Predictions
Rookie of the Year
“As much as I love Trae Young and his emergence in the middle of the season, Luka Doncic is my pick for Rookie of the Year. He’s simply been the best rookie in the league this season, and I think he has future superstar written all over him.
In my opinion, this guy will be the face of the league one day. He’s an all-around stud and I can see he and Kristaps Porzingis leading the Mavs to a ton of wins down the road.”
Giovanni Spillman: Luka Doncic.
“This man is the clear winner of this award, no disrespect to Trae Young. Doncic is averaging a whopping 21.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. He could easily turn into a triple-double machine one day.
During the course of the season, he hit clutch shots with ease, and reeled his team to many victories when he played. His team may not be a playoff team yet, but they will be close to being there next season.”
Elijah Edwards: Luka Doncic.
“It’s gotta be Luka Doncic. You could make a case for Trae Young, but Luka should take home the award.
Their shooting numbers are similar, though Trae is the better free-throw shooter. Doncic has a PER that is two points higher than Trae, and with Luka having seven triple-doubles (tied with James Harden for fifth most in the NBA), compared to just one for Young, I feel like he gets the nod.”
Daniel Abee: Luka Doncic.
“Luka looked like the real deal right out of the gate and is poised to be a heir to Dirk’s throne in Dallas. As a 20-year old rookie, he has without question been the best player on an underwhelming Mavericks roster.
Luka kept Dallas in most games even though the team finished with a poor record. The rookie’s skill set seems endless, as he’s a great ball handler, passer, playmaker and shooter. He has ideal size for his position and always plays at his own pace that overcomes his limited athleticism.
Luka was one of five rookies in NBA history to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, which further legitimizes his Rookie of the Year campaign. The crafty Slovenian will be a problem for the rest of the league for years to come.”