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NBA Roundtable: Who Will Be the Rookie of the Year?

By Kohl Rast

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball as he drives against Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks during a semifinal game of the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 108-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball as he drives against Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks during a semifinal game of the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 108-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 11: The 2017 Rookie Class poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 11: The 2017 Rookie Class poses for a photo during the 2017 NBA Rookie Shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks fans are getting excited for this year’s Rookie of the Year award, and for good reason. Aside from Dennis Smith Jr., which players are the favorites as the best youngsters in the league this season?

The Rookie of the Year award has never been won outright by a Dallas Mavericks player. In the 1994-95 season, both Jason Kidd and Grant Hill technically won the award, but was not the lone winner of the award. For that reason, the Dallas Mavericks are looking for their first outright winner of the ROY award this year, and they like their chances.

The previous winners of the award are: Malcolm Brogdon (2017), Karl-Anthony Towns (2016), Andrew Wiggins (2015), Michael Carter-Williams (2014), Damian Lillard (2013), Kyrie Irving (2012), and Blake Griffin (2011). Most of these players have proven that their ROY award was no fluke and it is expected that this year’s winner will do the same.

The headliners for the award this year are the Mavs very own Dennis Smith Jr., the one-and-only Lonzo Ball, and the 2016 first overall pick, Ben Simmons. All three of these players have turned heads in their college careers and the months leading up to the NBA season. DSJ was voted as most likely to win the award by his fellow rookies, but Lonzo and Simmons could both be worthy of the award as well.

A few dark horse choices could be Markelle Fultz, Jaylen Brown, or Lauri Markkanen. These guys should have good seasons but are not expected to shine like the three favorites.

Here are the staff picks for this year’s NBA Rookie of the Year, with absolutely no hometown bias whatsoever.

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