NBA: 2019-20 dark horse award predictions

Rookie of the Year: Michael Porter Jr.

Zion Williamson, despite undergoing surgery this week, is still a favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Ja Morant is a very close second. R.J. Barrett will put up decent numbers, but the heavy load he’ll carry with the Knicks could affect his ability to stay healthy. Meanwhile, everyone is forgetting that Michael Porter Jr. will finally make his NBA debut.

Unlike the other rookies with the potential of winning this award, there’s no pressure on Michael Porter Jr. to take over a franchise. The Nuggets are a contender to win the Western Conference. The team has veteran leadership, All-Star-caliber talent and a system that works. Porter Jr. only has to focus on playing his game offensively. In fact, his natural scoring ability is the one thing that the Nuggets could desperately use down the stretch of close games.

The only thing stopping Michael Porter Jr. from winning this award is the ability to earn minutes on the floor. The Nuggets finished last season with the second-best record in the Western Conference. This team can’t afford rookie mistakes in crunch time if they want to remain one of the best squads in the league.

Turnovers and an inability to guard his position could cause the rookie to spend more time on the bench than proving his case for Rookie of the Year. If he can avoid those two mistakes, Michael Porter Jr. has a shot at surprising everyone at the end of the season.