On Thursday, the NBA announced that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant won the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The result wasn’t in doubt because Morant averaged 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in his rookie season, leading Memphis to a surprising ninth place finish in the Western Conference. And yes, though Zion Williamson was (and still is) expected to have a more superstar-like career, Williamson missed most of the first half of the season. Morant didn’t.
Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn was second in Rookie of the Year voting, where he averaged 15.