The NBA announced the finalist for their end-of-season awards including the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year award. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a stellar rookie class, with OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti bringing in four key contributors in Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Aaron Wiggins.
This was a loaded NBA Rookie class, and the NBA award finalist show just that. Cutting the top three in voting, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, and Cade Cunningham. The award winner will be revealed later this summer.
The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Josh Giddey break a plethora of records during his rookie season in Bricktown. From being the youngest player to record a triple-double, logging four of them during his rookie campaign which is more than Ja Morant has to this point in his career, being in the same conversation as LeBron James, LaMelo Ball, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook, Larry Bird, Ben Simmons, Wilt Chamberlin, and Magic Johnson in many historical rookie categories. He also logged a double-double without scoring a point, the first time that has happened in the NBA since 1971.
Josh Giddey also won all but one Western Conference Rookie of the Month award this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard, sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Josh Giddey is not a finalist for the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year award. Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Scottie Barnes headline the three finalists
The NBA announced that Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, and Cade Cunningham are the three finalists for the NBA Rookie of the year award.
Season averages were as followed. Scottie Barnes: 74-games, 15-points, seven rebounds, three assists, 49-percent from the floor, 30-percent from three, and 73-percent from the line. Barnes turned in 6.6 win shares.
Evan Mobley: 69-games, 15-points, 8.3-rebounds, 2.5-assists, 50-percent from the floor, 25-percent from three, 66-percent at the line, and 5.2 win shares.
Cade Cunningham: 64-games, 17-points, 5-rebounds, 5-assists, 41-percent from the floor, 31-percent from three, 84-percent from the line, and -0.5 win shares.
Josh Giddey: 54-games, 12-points, eight rebounds, 6-assists, and 0.4 win shares.
Other award finalists: MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic; Sixth man of the year: Tyler Herro, Cam Johnson, Kevin Love; Defensive player of the year: Mikal Bridges, Marcus Smart, Rudy Gobert; Most improved Players: Darius Garland, Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray; Coach of the year: Taylor Jenkins, Erik Spoelstra, Monty Williams.