NBA Rookie of the Year Watch: Feb. 2
The NBA season is continuing to inch closer to the All Star Game and the race for the Rookie of the Year award continues to be a close one.
Here’s an update on how the top candidates are doing.
Cade Cunningham, G, Detroit Pistons
The top draft pick this past year is coming off an up and down week during a two-game homestand.
Cunningham’s week started out strong and against one of the more surprising teams in the league in the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a Pistons win, Cunningham picked up a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Following that game, Cunningham only had six points in a loss against the New Orleans Pelicans.
So far this season, Cunningham is averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors
Barnes has managed to keep himself in the race with some stellar performances all while helping the Raptors to a 3-0 mark this past week.
Arguably his best performance of the week came in the Raptors’ three overtime thriller against the Miami Heat. In 56 minutes of game time, Barnes picked up 22 points and nine rebounds in the win.
That was Barnes’ best game of the week as in the other two games he combined for 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Barnes is averaging 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds on the season.
Franz Wagner, F, Orlando Magic
Of all the top contenders for the award this season, Wagner is coming off arguably the best week.
In all three games last week, Wagner scored in double figures as he helped lead the Magic to a 2-1 record. Wagner’s best game came during the one loss which came against the Bulls where he put up 22 points and three assists.
In the other two games, Wagner put up 18 and 17 points respectively as he continues to shine on a struggling Magic team.
Wagner is averaging 15.8 points and 4.6 rebounds this season.
Josh Giddey, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
Giddey has shown a ton of improvement recently this season and was named the NBA Rookie of the Month alongside Cunningham.
Like Wagner, Giddey scored in double figures in all three of his games this past week.
Giddey lit up the stat sheet as he had a double-double in all three games with two of them being points and rebounds and the other one being points and assists.
Overall on the season, Giddey is averaging 11.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Logan Bourandas is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.
