As I sit here waiting for the end of the just begun off-season, I am currently waiting for the announcement every Sacramento fan is dying to here. "The NBA announces its pick for 2009-2010 Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans!" For much of the season this was no contest. As Tyreke continued to put up numbers that baffled the best in the league, his rise to the top has never stopped. Sitting atop rookie rankings from week 3 forward, he was the only option. After we watch Brandon Jennings post 55-points in week 2 of the season, he dropped off in statement games. Granted, he's the only top rookie to be in the playoffs, but he had help with the addition of Salmons and the great play of Bogut, who is out due to the injury to his arm. Then there is Stephen Curry...He's talented beyond belief with comparisons already being made to the best point guard in the NBA, Steve Nash. He has great court viewing skills. He sees plays and he makes them. He has a great 3-point shot finishing the 2009-10 season with 43.7% from beyond the arc, but where was this person in the early goings of the season? On the bench, that's where! He was able to even the race and make the discussion a little more interesting as the last 6 weeks of the season Curry and Evans have played leap frog with the top spot on the Rookie Rankings lists. The clear standout based on numbers and consistency this season has always been Tyreke Evans...and ladies and gentlemen he is only 20 years old! That's right, the virtually no name player who was taken in the 4 spot of the draft by the worst team in the NBA last year, who took his team on his back, led the charge in the 35 point comeback in Chicago, hit the game winning shot in Milwaukee, isn't even old enough to drink! Not to mention there is this small thing referred to by the masses as HISTORY! That's right, Tyreke made history on April 12, 2010, at the 6:46 mark of the 4th quarter sinking his 2 free throws to secure his season average of 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. These numbers may not seem like much, but he's only the 4th rookie to ever do so in their debut NBA season. The others you ask??? Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and Lebron James. That's pretty elite company. This season only 2 other players put up those averages in the whole league! Who you ask? Lebron James and Kobe Bryant...again elite company. To give this award to any other rookie would be like reliving the Lakers/Kings 2001-02 series....a dagger to the heart!
I think this is a done deal! I would be really surprised if anyone else other than Tyreke Evans were to win Rookie of the year!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Kayla. Although I did hear from "you know who" this afternoon that a couple of big wigs from the Warriers had been making calls before the vote to people with the vote to push Curry. Although I myself think that to be not "fair play" I believe it to be true...sadly. What is becoming of our NBA?
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