NBA award ballots: MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and more

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NBA award ballots: All-Rookie teams

Christopher Kline

All-Rookie First Team

Cade Cunningham, DET
Herbert Jones, NOP
Franz Wagner, ORL
Scottie Barnes, TOR
Evan Mobley, CLE

All-Rookie Second Team

Josh Giddey, OKC
Jalen Green, HOU
Davion Mitchell, SAC
Ayo Dosunmu, CHI
Chris Duarte, IND

Much has been said about Jalen Green lately, who ended to season on an absolute tear but who unfortunately seems destined for second team All-Rookie. Thing is, it’s a season-long award, and Green just was not good enough for the first three months of the season. It’s that simple. Even Josh Giddey, who put up some historic numbers for OKC, is relegated to second team because it’s such a loaded rookie class. Herbert Jones is already a borderline top-10 NBA defender, so look beyond points per game.

Lucas Johnson

All-Rookie First Team

Cade Cunningham, DET
Chris Duarte, IND
Franz Wagner, ORL
Scottie Barnes, TOR
Evan Mobley, CLE

All-Rookie Second Team

Josh Giddey, OKC
Jalen Green, HOU
Bones Hyland, DEN
Herbert Jones, NOP
Jonathan Kuminga, GSW

Stats were the main determining factor for my All-Rookie teams, although winning and games played did help separate the first and second team players. I did struggle with having Herbert Jones on first or second team, but if he made my All-Defensive second team then he needs to be on the All-Rookie first team.