NBA Rookie of the Year race: The favorites and other possible candidates
By Nate Friesen
Other legitimate candidates
3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Even though Zion Williamson has yet to play an actual NBA regular-season game, if I was betting on who would win the 2019-20 rookie of the year award, I would pick Zion Williamson. It really seems as though it is shaping up for Zion to come back, dominate, and win the award.
Zion is clearly the most talented and beloved rookie in this year’s class and even if he only plays around 50 games, there is a good chance he could win the award. The most recent example of a rookie who didn’t play a lot of games being in the running for the award is Joel Embiid.
Embiid only played 31 games and was the runner up behind Malcolm Brogdon. I think a lot of people look back at that year and wish that they had given the award to Embiid. That’s why I think even if Zion only plays 40 or 50 games he could win, as some voters may want to atone for the mistake that was made in 2016-17.