2015 Midseason Awards for the NBA's Rookie Class
The youthful NBA rookies of 2014-15 are halfway done with their first grueling pro campaign. As a whole, they've been a disappointing group, but the top performers deserve some hardware.
We're not just dishing out awards for things like "top player" or "defensive player"; we're also crowning the most surprising, electrifying and underrated newcomers, to name a few.
Injuries to the likes of Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon and Jabari Parker have weakened the watchability factor of this group. There's no getting around it.
However, it gives us an opportunity to appreciate midseason standouts who would otherwise be afterthoughts in the highly anticipated draft class.
Who took home the coveted prizes?
Most Underrated: Tarik Black, Los Angeles Lakers
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Awarded To: The undrafted rookie who has been (and still is) most undervalued and underestimated despite positive impact.
2014-15 Stats: 11.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per 36 minutes, 57 FG% , 117 Offensive Rating
As he transitioned from Kansas to the NBA, undrafted big man Tarik Black was overshadowed by highly coveted Jayhawks teammate Joel Embiid. His rock-solid performances for the Houston Rockets went under the radar, and the club waived him. Now with the Los Angeles Lakers, he still deserves more love.
He doesn't get enough credit for his skill set, instincts, athleticism and strength. Black has all the tools to serve as a formidable NBA role player.
His statistical impact warrants more praise, too. While a standout like Denver's Jusuf Nurkic grabs more rebounds per minute, Black's offensive rebounding and offensive rebounding percentage are loftier. Black is hauling in 5.3 O-boards per 36 minutes, and his offensive rebounding percentage is a gaudy 16.6.
In addition to his penchant for gobbling up caroms around the rim, Black has a great sense of timing as an off-ball cutter. He's been an easy target to find for veteran teammates like Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer.
"(Black) told me he's constantly asking Kobe Bryant on the bench what he wants to see from his bigs," said Serena Winters of Lakers Nation. "(It's) clearly paying off."
Don't be fooled by the undrafted status and the midseason move from Houston to L.A. Black is more valuable than most bigs who were drafted in 2014.
Runner-Up—Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz: 14.6 EFF per 48 minutes, 4.3 assists per 36 minutes
Most Electrifying: Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Awarded To: The most exciting rookie to watch during his time on the floor.
2014-15 Stats: 23.6 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 3.5 APG, 41 FG%, 26 3FG%
Is Zach LaVine productive? Sometimes. Is he efficient? Not a chance.
But he sure is exciting to watch.
No rookie (not even his teammate Andrew Wiggins) possesses the type of speed and explosiveness that LaVine supplies when he gets into the flow of the game.
Because of Ricky Rubio's injury and Mo Williams' intermittent rests, the one-and-done UCLA product has seen more playing time than anticipated. He hasn't convinced anyone he can command the point guard spot or shoot efficiently as the 2, yet his end-to-end exploits are captivating.
LaVine's acceleration is breathtaking in the open floor and half court, as he blows by opponents and gets into the paint with ease.
He's basketball eye candy in transition, an ultra-elite athlete by any measure. It doesn't mean he's a great player or an upper-echelon rookie, but when fans turn on League Pass looking for something to watch, his must-see qualities tend to trump the shaky fundamentals and development.
Runner-Up—Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves: He makes plays like this.
Most Surprising: K.J. McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers
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ssAwarded To: The rookie who has exceeded preseason expectations/draft status the most.
2014-15 Stats: 26.1 MPG, 9.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 40 FG%, 29 3FG%
Many believed K.J. McDaniels would be a solid role player in the NBA, but I'm not sure anyone thought he'd emerge as one of the top five rookies in the 2014-15 crop.
The second-round pick's talents and efforts at Clemson have shifted smoothly to the Philadelphia 76ers, especially on defense.
McDaniels can lock down the 1-3 positions with his athleticism, tremendous instincts and length. In case you haven't noticed, he's a prolific shot-blocker compared to other wing players, swatting 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes. He's got the wherewithal to become an elite wing stopper and a versatile asset on that end of the floor.
McDaniels sets the bar high for himself defensively, he explained to Rob Mahoney of Sports Illustrated:
"I used to watch a lot of [Dwyane] Wade and LeBron [James] when they came into the league. I used to watch Michael Jordan a lot, too – the way they were versatile in how they defend multiple positions and use their athleticism to block shots. I just figured since I’m athletic and I can jump and have good instincts, I can go up there and get shots as well.
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Although defense is his forte, McDaniels has also been effective as a shooter and slasher.
He isn't a brilliant ball-handler, but he's got enough moves and agility to make some plays and let his athleticism take over. And once he gets near the rim, he knows how to finish forcefully. From the perimeter, his shot looks manageable and improvable even though he hasn't converted at a superb rate.
Questions about his NBA role and a lackluster draft combine dented his draft stock last summer, but he should have been higher on everyone's radar compared to most of his 2014-15 comrades.
Runner-Up—Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets: 16.4 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes
Most Disappointing: Nik Stauskas, Sacramento Kings
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Awarded To: The rookie who has fallen short of preseason expectations/draft status the most (minimum 20 games played).
2014-15 Stats: 14.1 MPG, 3.6 PPG, 0.7 APG, 33 FG%, 27 3FG%
It's not uncommon for prolific college hoops stars to struggle during their transition to the Association. Nik Stauskas, however, is sinking below everyone's expectations.
His knack for shooting the lights out and making plays at Michigan translated to a top-10 draft selection. But his game hasn't translated well to the Sacramento Kings, and he's struggled exceedingly through his first three months.
One of the most surprising aspects of his headache-filled first half is his shooting malaise. Stauskas is connecting on just 27 percent of his three-pointers, and he's hitting just 31 percent of all catch-and-shoot field-goal attempts, per SportVU tracking. He's also having trouble creating offense for himself and teammates off the dribble, as he's generating just 5.2 points off assists per 48 minutes.
Defensively, his play is a bit less surprising, yet it's still disappointing. We weren't sure whether he'd be able to consistently corral opponents and limit the damage from explosive wings. Now we know, and the answer is no.
When he's on the floor, the Kings' opponents routinely pick him apart. Sac-town surrenders 117.3 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor, per 82games.com. That's horrendous by any standard.
Runner-Up—Dante Exum, Utah Jazz: 18.6 MPG, 4.7 PPG, 2.0 APG, 37 FG%, 31 3FG%
Top Reserve: Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls
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Awarded To: The most valuable, productive and efficient rookie who predominantly comes off the bench.
2014-15 Stats: 18.4 MPG, 8.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 41 FG%, 35 3FG%
This was one of the easiest selections to make among our midseason awards.
Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic is outshining almost every single rookie in the field, starters and bench players alike.
Within the first few weeks of his NBA career, he became a key reserve and a sharp all-around player for Tom Thibodeau. The 23-year-old displays a more advanced knowledge of the game than most rookies of this era, and he operates with quick feet and trusty fundamentals.
He shoots 40 percent on catch-and-shoot triples, per SportVU, and his 56.8 true shooting percentage illustrates a nice mix of jumpers, drives and free-throw attempts. Mirotic is also a capable passer in Chicago's system and dishes 2.2 assists per 36 minutes.
Defensively, he's not a one-on-one star, but he demonstrates good footwork and team concepts while using his length to protect the rim and clean the glass.
It all adds up to some impressive efficiency numbers, including a 17.2 PER and a net rating of plus-3.9 points per 100 possessions, per 82games.com. His minutes and stats have waned a bit over the last couple of weeks, but he's still by far the best rookie reserve of the season so far.
Runner-Up—Tarik Black, Los Angeles Lakers: 11.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per 36 minutes, 57 FG%
Most Likely to Make Teams Regret Passing on Him: Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets
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Awarded To: The rookie whose production and performance suggest he was overlooked the most on draft night.
2014-15 Stats: 14.6 MPG, 6.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 45 FG%
This picture aptly encapsulates Jusuf Nurkic's entrance into the NBA: bold, confident and physically imposing.
Using his massive 280-pound frame, rebounding instincts and impressive touch around the basket, the Bosnian center delivers a colossal two-way impact for the Denver Nuggets.
Considering his promising trajectory and the less-than-convincing showing from several draft peers, a few NBA general managers who passed on him are already cringing. Nurkic may turn out to be the steal of the 2014 draft.
David Thorpe of ESPN.com detailed Nurkic's smorgasbord of contributions during the first half of the season:
"Post-up buckets over good defenders, offensive putbacks, smooth perimeter jumpers as a trail post -- these are all skills he is showing frequently now that he is firmly in Denver's rotation. Nurkic is also the best rebounder in this rookie class and, by the end of the season, will likely rate as its best defender, too (he might already be the Nuggets' best defender). This is what franchise-level centers look like before they turn 21
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His titanic presence is being felt by opponents and in the stat books. If his per-game numbers aren't astounding for a 20-year-old, his per-36 minute numbers are: 16.4 points, 3.0 blocks and 5.1 free-throw attempts.
If this is what his first three months look like, it's exciting to think of what he'll do over the next three years.
Runner-Up—K.J. McDaniels: 12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes
Defensive Stopper: K.J. McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers
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Awarded To: The most talented and impactful defensive player among rookies.
2014-15 Stats: 26.1 MPG, 9.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 40 FG%, 29 3FG%
Apparently one midseason trophy wasn't enough for K.J. McDaniels.
His superior defensive performance and statistical impact earned him our nod as the top rookie defender. Other youngsters such as Marcus Smart, Elfrid Payton and Nerlens Noel have shown intriguing talent on that end, but McDaniels' value and versatility give him the edge.
As we touched on before, McDaniels can protect the rim as well as blanket the perimeter. When we dig into advanced metrics, we get a clearer picture of exactly how much his ranginess affects would-be attackers.
According to NBA.com SportVU tracking, his defensive field-goal percentage (the field-goal percentage of opponents when the player is defending the shot) is a stingy 42 percent. Within six feet of the hoop, he forces opponents to shoot 12.8 percent worse than they normally do.
McDaniels knows how to contest, alter and reject shots consistently. He swats 2.8 shots per 100 possessions, and his block percentage is in the top 10 of the entire league.
His offensive game is still largely predicated on energy and physical tools, but his defense is a more well-balanced blend of fundamentals, talent, tools and natural feel.
Runner-Up—Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic: 1.5 SPG, Magic defense minus-5.5 per 100 possessions when on floor, per 82games.com.
Rookie of the (Half) Year: Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Awarded To: The most valuable and most outstanding rookie in the field.
2014-15 Stats: 32.9 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 43 FG%, 41 3FG%
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was giving strong consideration to Nikola Mirotic as a Rookie of the Year contender. Many of the Spaniard's stats are still more impressive than any other newbies'.
But Andrew Wiggins is just making too many plays on a nightly basis to lose this award.
The Minnesota Timberwolves swingman has become comfortable attacking on a regular basis; his confidence and explosiveness have yielded increased production and healthy shooting numbers. He tallied a career-high 31 points against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, bringing his January points per game average to 22 and his field-goal percentage north of 50 percent.
B/R's Andy Bailey noted that, not only is Wiggins taking advantage of his athletic superiority, he's also exhibiting a fairly clean, refined brand of hoops:
"Wiggins is adjusting to the size and speed of of the game and realizing he has the athletic edge in just about every matchup. That was a big part of why he went No. 1 overall in the draft.
What was supposed to take a while was the refinement of Wiggins' game. He was going to miss a ton of jump shots and commit a bunch of turnovers. Neither of those things is really happening. In fact, Wiggins' three-point and turnover percentages are both better than the league averages.
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On defense, he's played mostly like a teenager as part of one of the worst stoppage units in NBA history. However, his foot speed, agility and quick hands indicate he'll enjoy much better days ahead.
For now, let's be grateful he's coming into his own, looking the part of ROY amid an otherwise underwhelming draft class.
Runner-Up—Nikola Mirotic: 15.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per 36 min, 41 FG%, 35 3FG%
Unless noted otherwise, all statistics gathered from Basketball-Reference.com.
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