Domantas Sabonis’ Chances of Winning Rookie of the Year

Domantas Sabonis was not drafted to be Serge Ibaka’s immediate replacement; 3 1/2 months since draft night and Sabonis is the favorite to start at power forward October 26th.

The rise of Domantas Sabonis has been scary. I was high on him coming out of the draft and he has DESTROYED my expectations so far.

In two games Sabonis has averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 points and 3.5 assists. Honestly, who cares if it wasn’t against an NBA team? Sabonis looked like an NBA basketball player.

Domantas Sabonis is the perfect power forward for Billy Donovan’s system. He’s quick for his size. He can shoot. He can rebound.

He can pass. <——- That’s what separates him from every other Thunder big. Just like Papa Sabonis, Domantas has a knack for passing. And that has everything to do with his basketball IQ.

That skill is what sets Sabonis apart from the rest of this rookie class (besides Ben Simmons). In fact, Sabonis and Pelicans guard Buddy Hield are the only two true rookies (sorry Joel Embiid and Dario Saric) vying for a starting spot.

So who is Domantas Sabonis’ main competition for ROY?

Going into the season this was Simmons award to lose. And then Joel Embiid stepped on a basketball court again.

I just..I don’t…I’m scared. Joel Embiid is a 7’2 version of LeBron James (physically). 7’2 LeBron James (physically)’s should not exist. If 7’2 LeBron James (physically) averages 25 minutes a game this award is a lock. But sadly for Embiid, nature has tried to stop a 7’2 version of LeBron James (physically) from happening.

After Embiid, there are four main competitors for Sabonis. Buddy Buckets, Ben Simmons (if his agent allows him to play), Dario Saric and Brandon Ingram.

Ingram has already been assigned to the bench to start the season. Things can change if Ingram shows signs, but personally I’m not a fan. Simmons is a wild card to even play this season, so throw him out.

That leads us to Mr. Buddy Hield and Mr. Dario Saric. Buddy Buckets has averaged 17 points a game in preseason, but points alone won’t win you a Rookie of the Year. Sabonis has more assists per game than the guard and is shooting at a much more efficient rate. Saric is the scary one.

More from Thunder News

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Even through the Croatian is in a logjam at his position, he’s going to play the most minutes. The 76ers have been vocal about wanting to trade Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor so they will invest the most on Saric. He’s played professionally for a few years now, and he’s got the skills to put up the numbers.

Saric is a gifted passer much like Sabonis; he’s also slightly more athletic. When the two matched up in the Olympics, Saric feasted on the young Lithuanian. (If you can’t tell, Saric is my pick to win it.)

Ultimately, Sabonis has a good chance of finishing in the top three in voting. There are a guys with greater potential, but Sabonis’ consistency will set him apart from a large majority of his counterparts.

Will he win it? Probably not. The usage just won’t be there. But don’t be surprised to see Sabonis’ ranked highest4 in the analytics sphere at the end of the season.