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Ranking Ja Morant among past NBA Rookie of the Year winners

By Amaar Burton

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during a game against the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum on January 26, 2020 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 114-109. 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 Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during a game against the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum on January 26, 2020 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 114-109. 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 Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

2. Ben Simmons (2018)

Some people want to put an asterisk on Ben Simmons’ Rookie of the Year trophy.

The No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft sat out the entire 2016-17 season after foot surgery, giving him what amounted to an NBA redshirt year. He was able to be around his Philadelphia 76ers teammates and coaches, practice and train with the team when he could, and get somewhat accustomed to the NBA lifestyle.

So when Simmons made his official debut in 2017-18, some people believed he had an unfair advantage over the “real” rookies who had just been drafted. It was argued that Simmons shouldn’t have been eligible for Rookie of the Year.

But that’s not how the rules work. The NBA considers you a rookie when you make your regular-season debut, and Simmons made his in 2017-18.

Simmons posted 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game that season, drawing comparisons to LeBron James and Magic Johnson as a 6’10” point guard. Simmons helped the Sixers go 52-30 and earn the No. 3 playoff seed in the East.

Although the R.O.Y. voting concludes before the playoffs, Simmons reiterated just how good he was by flirting with triple-double stat lines throughout Philly’s first-round series win over the Miami Heat. The Sixers lost in the next round to the Boston Celtics, but Simmons made it clear he was the league’s top first-year player.

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