2022 midseason NBA awards ballot: Rookie of the Year
- Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
- Cade Cunningham, Pistons
- Franz Wagner, Magic
Cade Cunningham continues to ramp up his production, and by season’s end, it’s not hard to imagine the No. 1 pick overtaking the No. 1 spot on this ballot. That said, the midseason award belongs to Evan Mobley, who is at the heart of Cleveland’s sudden rise this season.
The reigning No. 3 pick never should have fallen to Cleveland, but the Cavs are clearly elated he did. Playing all over the floor as part of J.B. Bickerstaff’s supersized frontcourt, Mobley’s versatility has been a revelation for the Cavs, who just last season were a truly awful defensive team. Mobley can man the top of a zone, protect the rim like a traditional center, or bottle up wings off the dribble. The 7-footer moves his feet absurdly well, and he has the instincts of a vet many years his senior.
The offense has been plentiful for Mobley too. He’s averaging 15.2 points and 8.2 rebounds on .506/.286/.656 shooting, setting the foundation for what promises to be a special career. This is certainly not Mobley’s final inclusion on this ballot.
As for Cunningham, he has been the victim of circumstance to some degree. The Cavs are winning a lot of games, in large part due to Mobley (even as the third-best player on his team). Cunningham is the Pistons’ best player most nights, but the roster around him is so bad, that it makes life harder on Cunningham. He just doesn’t have the supporting cast necessary to maximize his elite playmaking talent.
Franz Wagner sneaks into the No. 3 spot for now (15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds), providing excellent two-way production for the last-place Magic. He’s certainly not locked into that spot, however, with Toronto’s Scottie Barnes (14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds) and OKC’s Josh Giddey (11.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists) hot on his trail.