{"id":3383,"date":"2017-05-16T12:47:55","date_gmt":"2017-05-16T17:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebozho.com\/?p=3383"},"modified":"2018-08-20T14:11:27","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:11:27","slug":"case-malcolm-brogdon-rookie-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebozho.com\/case-malcolm-brogdon-rookie-year\/","title":{"rendered":"The case for Malcolm Brogdon, Rookie of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The stage is\u00a0set for tonight\u2019s NBA draft lottery, where 14 teams will be hoping \u2014 perhaps praying \u2014 that the ping pong balls bounce their way.\u00a0If the basketball gods are agreeable, they’ll be put in position to grab\u00a0a\u00a0franchise-transforming player when they’re\u00a0on the clock atop\u00a0the June 22\u00a0draft.<\/p>\n

But most NBA teams just hoping for someone who can make a difference right away by\u00a0filling a void on the court or bolster a team\u2019s bench.\u00a0Someone like 2016 Milwaukee Bucks second-round pick Malcolm Brogdon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brogdon emerged from the shadows of last year\u2019s draft and steadily became one of the best players in his\u00a0rookie class. The 6-foot-5 guard started his first game Dec. 30 and started 27 more by regular-season’s end. He averaged 10.2 points per game, 4.2 assists and shot 40.4 percent from the perimeter in 75 games played.<\/p>\n

With his first season now in the rearview mirror, Brogdon finds himself with as good a case as any to claim\u00a0this year’s\u00a0Rookie of the Year hardware. Except for one small little detail: Brogdon and the Bucks haven\u2019t really made much of a case. Brogdon turned down the Bucks’ offer to pay for<\/a> a Rookie of the Year campaign, electing instead to let his stats speak for themselves.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, we thought we\u2019d help him out and make his Rookie of the Year case for him.<\/span>\n

Which rookie had the best statistics?<\/h3>\n

To be frank, Brogdon\u2019s stats aren\u2019t eye-popping.\u00a0This\u00a0may seem like a poor way to start out an argument for the Rookie of the Year, but stay with me for a moment.<\/p>\n

The award is given out every year regardless of whether or not a rookie player took the NBA by storm. Not every season can see a 19-year-old, prep-to-pro phenom like LeBron James finish with 20.9 points per game, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds. So with that being said, Brogdon really only needs to be better than the competition \u2014 and this year that isn\u2019t so hard.<\/p>\n

Brogdon\u2019s two main competitors are two Philadelphia 76ers:\u00a0Dario Saric<\/a> and Joel Embiid<\/a>. Both were lottery picks, and both carry the heavy burden of having to lift the their team\u00a0from the ashes and back into relevance.<\/p>\n

Despite what 76ers head coach Brett Brown thinks<\/a>, neither of his players should win.<\/p>\n

Embiid can be eliminated from the Rookie of the Year conversation almost immediately. He played in just 31 games \u2014 less\u00a0than a half-season \u2014 due to\u00a0a knee injury suffered in January. Despite the best numbers of any of the rookies, including 20.2 points per game, Embiid\u00a0quite simply didn\u2019t play enough to win an award that is supposed to reflect a player\u2019s entire rookie season.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Saric outscored Brogdon by 2 points per game (12.8) and topped him in rebounds\u00a0while trailing\u00a0in both assists per game and three-point percentage. After the All-Star break, though, Saric turned it into high gear, averaging\u00a017.3 points and 7.3 rebounds during the final stretch.<\/p>\n

It might also be worth mentioning that Brogdon didn\u2019t need to play the same scoring role as Saric. After all, he is teammates\u00a0with Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the stats are what they are.<\/p>\n

Edge:<\/strong> Saric<\/span>\n

Who had a bigger impact on his team\u2019s performance in games?<\/h3>\n

With stats being largely a wash between the two players, the debate turns to who was the bigger difference-maker on the basketball court.<\/p>\n

Sarin played in all 81 games, including 36 starts. Brogdon played in 75 games, including 28 starts.<\/p>\n

Despite appearing in fewer games, Brogdon made the most of his opportunities on the court, by doing things like this…<\/p>\n