As the NBA season approaches and the training camps are getting set to start, it’s time to start predicting what could happen for the upcoming 2015-16 season and beyond.
The NBA’s newest class of rookies have already started to pick sides when it comes to who they believe will be more successful in the NBA. Last year, despite Andrew Wiggins going number one overall, the 2014 rookie class selected his main competition, Jabari Parker, to win the rookie of the year award and end up with the best NBA career. So far, Wiggins is winning in both of those categories, only due to Jabari’s rookie season ending early because of injury.
Once again, the first overall pick is losing out to one of his peers, this time the third pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers is getting votes over Karl-Anthony Towns.
Following from John Schuhmann of NBA.com.
Who will be the 2015-16 Rookie of the Year?
1. Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia — 41.9 percent
2. Stanley Johnson, Detroit — 19.4 percent
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota — 12.9 percent
T-4. Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver — 9.7 percent
D’Angelo Russell, L.A. Lakers — 9.7 percent
Others receiving votes: Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento; Trey Lyles, Utah
Which rookie will have the best career?
Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia — 24.1 percent
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota — 17.2 percent
T-3. Justin Anderson, Dallas — 13.8 percent
Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver — 13.8 percent
5. Stanley Johnson, Detroit — 8.0 percent
6. Sam Dekker, Houston — 6.9 percent
Others receiving votes: Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento; Bobby Portis, Chicago; Kelly Oubre, Washington; Kristaps Porzingis, New York; D’Angelo Russell, L.A. Lakers; Rashad Vaughn, Milwaukee
The rookies know best because they’ve played against a majority of these guys throughout out their young lives. Interestingly enough, Justin Anderson of the Dallas Mavericks was voted most athletic, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of the Brooklyn Nets was voted as the best defender and in not so surprising news, Hollis-Jefferson was voted the funniest rookie and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was voted the best shooter.
For the second straight year, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James ranked 1-2-3 among rookies as their favorite players.
