All right, barring a HUGE upset, Chris Paul is going to win the NBA Rookie of the Year honors. The fourth pick in the 2005 draft has been phenomenal this season, averaging 16.2 points, 5.1 rpg, 7.9 apg and 2.3 spg. Although it doesn’t look like the Hornets will make the playoffs, he is the main reason that they were able to contend.
But who would be the runner-up? Inside Hoops lists three main contenders:
(1) Channing Frye, Knicks (#8 overall in the 2005 draft)
Even though Larry Brown hates rookies, Frye has managed 12.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg in only 24.2 minutes per game. He just suffered an knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.
(2) Andrew Bogut, Bucks (#1 overall)
As the starting center for Milwaukee, Bogut has averaged 8.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.3 apg and .94 bpg. He has shot the ball well (52.9%) but his free throw percentage (62.9%) is below average. If the Bucks make the playoffs, he’ll be the fourth #1 pick to make the playoffs in his first year. The others? David Robinson and Tim Duncan of the Spurs and Chris Webber with Golden State.
(3) Charlie Villanueva, Raptors (#7 overall)
Many people (myself included) were scratching their heads when the Raptors selected Villanueva as the seventh pick in the draft. But he’s performed admirably, averaging 12.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg in 27.1 minutes per game.
Considering that Villanueva and Frye are getting minutes on bad teams, Bogut’s play on a playoff-caliber team is probably the second best performance by a rookie this season. Considering how good of a passer he was touted to be coming out of college, his assist numbers aren’t as high as I thought they’d be, but his ability to shoot the ball has been a nice surprise.
