No player has ever won the Rookie of the Year award when playing less than half the regular season, but Zion Williamson is giving himself a chance.
After missing his first 44 games in recovery from knee surgery, the No. 1 overall pick has quickly thrust himself into the NBA spotlight. Since his debut, he has impressed with 13 straight games of 20+ points in 17 total appearances, the first streak of such length for a teenager in NBA history.
Weeks ago, Williamson claiming the award seemed unlikely. The Grizzlies’ Ja Morant has largely been in the lead for Rookie of the Year honors ahead of Miami’s Kendrick Nunn and Chicago’s Coby White.