The clear front-runner for NBA Rookie of the Year is Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. The young Slovenian forward is averaging 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists and looks to be the next superstar in the NBA.
But he has struggled against the Los Angeles Lakers thanks to versatile defenders like Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram. In his first two games against the Lakers, Doncic averaged just 10 points on 29.1 percent shooting.
He was better in Monday’s contest, finishing with 27 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the field, but he had to earn every point thanks to Hart’s defensive effort all night.