NBA Rookie Of The Year Candidates

At the beginning of the season, most basketball fans you would ask, would say Kevin Durant had the Rookie of the Year title on lock.

Once Greg Oden was injured, there really wasn't any competition for Kevin Durant. F.Y.I. Kevin Durant—the competition is now on your back.

With Al Horford's phenomenal season, registering many double-doubles and Luis Scola's impressive work while Yao has been out, it may not look too pretty for Durant.

Plus, both Al and Luis are in the playoffs and they may be able to show the NBA what they can do for their teams while Durant is practicing and working on his game for next season.

But, it doesn't seem too good for the Rockets being down 0-2 against the Jazz and the Hawks also being down by 0-1 against the Celtics. Rockets still have a chance to fight, but before the Hawks and Celtics began Game 1, most critics said Boston will win 4-0 and I agree.

But, here is the bright side for Durant. Al Horford has Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, and Mike Bibby (I know these aren't phenoms but they can play the game). Luis Scola has one of the best shooting guards in the NBA (Tracy McGrady), along with Rafer Alston, Shane Battier, and had Yao Ming. 

Who knows? Maybe Durant deserves it, but with a record of 20-62? I'm clearly not sure.

Here is a list of some previous tittle winners since 2000:

2006-07 - Brandon Roy, Portland
2005-06 - Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City
2004-05 - Emeka Okafor, Charlotte
2003-04 - LeBron James, Cleveland
2002-03 - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
2001-02 - Pau Gasol, Memphis
2000-01 - Mike Miller, Orlando