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

Joel Embiid, Sixers (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid, Sixers (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
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Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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.