NBA Rookie Survey 2015: Full Results, Comments and Reaction
The NBA holds a yearly survey of its incoming rookie class, and it's fair to say the 2015-16 debutants are expecting big things out of Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor.
According to NBA.com's John Schuhmann, among the 36 rookies who were polled, most expect Okafor to be the Rookie of the Year and to have the best overall career. Here is a full rundown of the top-five results for all 10 questions:
| 2015-16 Rookie of the Year | Jahlil Okafor (PHI) (41.9%) | Stanley Johnson (DET) (19.4%) | Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) (12.9%) | Emmanuel Mudiay (DEN) (9.7%) | D'Angelo Russell (LAL) (9.7%) |
| Best Career | Jahlil Okafor (PHI) (24.1%) | Karl-Anthony Towns (17.2%) | Justin Anderson (DAL) (13.8%) | Emmanuel Mudiay (DEN) (13.8%) | Stanley Johnson (DET) (8%) |
| Biggest Steal | Joseph Young (IND) (12.1%) | R.J. Hunter (BOS) (9.1%) | Tyus Jones (MIN) (9.1%) | Bobby Portis (CHI) (9.1%) | Justise Winslow (MIA) (9.1%) |
| Most Athletic | Justin Anderson (DAL) (27.8) | Pat Connaughton (POR) (13.9%) | Willie Cauley-Stein (SAC) (11.1%) | Justise Winslow (MIA) (8.3%) | 3 Tied (5.6%) |
| Best Shooter | Devin Booker (PHX) (58.8%) | Pat Connaughton (POR) (8.8%) | R.J. Hunter (BOS) (8.8%) | Anthony Brown (LAL) (5.9%) | Mario Hezonja (ORL) (5.9%) |
| Best Defender | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (BKN) (23.5%) | Stanley Johnson (DET) (20.6%) | Justise Winslow (MIA) (17.6%) | Willie Cauley-Stein (SAC) (5.9%) | Delon Wright (TOR) (5.9%) |
| Best Playmaker | D'Angelo Russell (LAL) (40%) | Tyus Jones (MIN) (17.1%) | Emmanuel Mudiay (DEN) (14.3%) | Delon Wright (TOR) (8.6%) | 2 Tied (5.7%) |
| Funniest | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (BKN) (44.3%) | Frank Kaminsky (CHA) (25.7%) | D'Angelo Russell (LAL) ( 5.7%) | --- | --- |
| Biggest NBA Adjustment | Speed of game (38.6%) | Length of season (18.6%) | Physicality (17.1%) | Lifestyle/time management (11.4%) | Conditioning (4.3%) |
| Favorite NBA Player | Kevin Durant (OKC) (21.2%) | Kobe Bryant (LAL) (18.2%) | LeBron James (CLE) (15.2%) | Stephen Curry (GS) (9.1%) | Dwyane Wade (MIA) (9.1%) |
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Okafor was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NBA draft behind Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell.
While the 6'11" big man led Duke to a national title and was among the finalists for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award, his stock dropped slightly because of the perception that he isn't a strong defender.
Despite that, the incoming rookies who played against him in college this past season are confident the Chicago native will be a big-time star with the Sixers.
While his peers like his chances of winning the Rookie of the Year Award, Okafor has made it one of his personal goals as well, per Russ Cohen of CSNPhilly.com: "I'd like to win Rookie of the Year. Just want to get better every night for myself and my coaches with the Sixers. Try and win some big games."
In addition to Okafor, Detroit Pistons small forward Stanley Johnson received plenty of love as well. He finished second in both the Rookie of the Year and best defender voting along with a No. 5 finish in best career despite being the eighth pick in the draft.
The former Arizona standout seems to have all the tools needed to be a star, and they were on full display during NBA Summer League.
NBA social media's Conrad Kaczmarek is among those who expect Johnson to be a fantastic player in the pros:
The poll results don't guarantee success or failure for any of the rookies, just like the admiration for Okafor doesn't mean he will end up being a better pick than Towns was at No. 1 overall.
They are certainly relevant, though, since the players know what their peers bring to the table, perhaps more so than pundits and talent evaluators.
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