The biggest awards debate this NBA season has been about who is deserving of the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year. A year after the closest MVP race in recent history, the Rookie of the Year race between Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons has delivered similar drama.
The two have stoked the flames of debate with some controversial comments (and clothing choices) towards the end of the season, and both have worthy claims for being the favorite. However, while only one of Mitchell or Simmons can take home Rookie of the Year honors later in June, the NBA’s All-Rookie teams allow for both to get the respect they rightfully deserve.
Both Simmons and Mitchell were unanimously voted first-team All-Rookie this season, while Boston’s Jayson Tatum was only left off of one first-team ballot, earning 199 of a possible 200 points in voting. Each first-team vote is worth two points and each second-team vote is worth one point, so the five players with the most points make the first-team and the next five earn second-team honors.
First-Team All-Rookie
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia (200 points)
Donovan Mitchell, Utah (200 points)
Jayson Tatum, Boston (199 points)
Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles (193 points)
Lauri Markkanen, Chicago (173 points)
Second-Team All-Rookie
Dennis Smith, Jr., Dallas (96 points)
Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles (87 points)
John Collins, Atlanta (76 points)
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento (75 points)
Josh Jackson, Phoenix (45 points)
Bam Adebayo of the Heat finished one point behind Jackson for the final second-team slot, with De’Aaron Fox (34 points), OG Anunoby (25 points), Jarrett Allen (18 points), and Dillon Brooks (14 points) being the next five top vote-getters.
