May 23, 2013

Sporting News names Kyrie Irving Rookie of the Year

April 24, 2012 by 10 Comments

The Rookie of the Year awards will start piling up at Kyrie’s feet. The Sporting News is first-

“Had Ricky Rubio remained healthy and kept the Timberwolves on the playoff path, he would have given Kyrie Irving, the top pick in last year’s NBA Draft, a run for this award. But as it stands, Irving (18.8 points, 5.5 assists, 46.8 percent shooting) was clearly the best player first-year player, and looks to be a piece the Cavs can use as a cornerstone going forward. Kenneth Faried, chosen by Denver with the 22nd pick, has proven to be the surprise of the draft, and Leonard’s performance, particularly at the defensive end, has helped Spurs fans forget the George Hill trade.

Sporting News ballot

1. Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers.

2. Kenneth Faried, Nuggets.

3. Kawhi Leonard, Spurs.”

Congratulations are still in order, even if the award is obvious.

 

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  • DontbringLBJback

    Although obvious, still very impressive.  Only 29% of 1st overall picks have won the award… probably because the 1st pick is going to a really crappy team, and it’s tough to go 20 and 10 or 18, 5, and 5 every night on a team that just went 18-64.  Kyrie has shown in the last two games that he’s not only the ROTY, but he’s so good that he takes a team that lost to Detroit by 50 points, and leads them into San Antonio and pushes that team until the end, and then against Memphis (and if Scott leaves Kyrie in the Cavs win that game) he played a really great game, maybe his best 20 minutes of the year.

    The kid is amazing.  Flat out amazing.

  • BrownsFanSF

    What a gem Faried turned out to be. Let’s hope Grant can find a keeper like that with the Lakers pick.

  • mgbode

    yes and no.  Faried was expected to be an energetic ball of fire with a limited upside (but decently high floor).  not nearly as surprised that he did what he did on the fast-paced Nuggets as I would be if he continues to build on it and have a higher ceiling than anyone expected.

  • BrownsFanSF

    That’s a good point.  There are always a bunch of those guys who come out as rookies and are pretty much a finished product.  You can see things that some rookies will improve to get to the “next level” (usually defense/jump shooting).  But when your “NBA Skill” is your motor, how much better do you get?

  • Jaker

    Oh he just had to mention Rubio!!! even though when Ricky went down, it was still hands down All-Irving

  • mgbode

    well, it took him awhile, but Anderson Varejao is a pretty good example for him to follow.

  • BrownsFanSF

    Agreed.  I think we can both def agree that if Grant finds us another one of those late first or early second, we are in very good shape

  • mgbode

    yessir.

  • porckchopexpress

    I tend to put Klay Thompson in that category as well, his 3pt shooting has been good, but he’s playing in a system that doesn’t expect much other than run down the floor, pass, maybe pass again, and then chuck.

    Leonard is good, but c’mon, he goes to the most professionally run team in basketball, has a perfect surrounding cast, and is asked to only do the few things he does well.  Its a credit that he does them but its not like he is trying to carry the Cavs, Nets, Raptors or Kings into the playoffs. 

    Oh and on the general topic, the whole Rubio thing is a joke.  I love watching the kid pass the ball, and his D was a surprise but Irving was simply a better player by any comparision not involving managing to get one of three between the defenders legs passes to work.

  • mgbode

    agreed on Klay.

    Kawhi less so because his main value for the Spurs has been his wing defense, which would have been there regardless.  now, his deficiencies may have been exposed more if he was on a lesser team and had to play accordingly, yes.

    completely agree on Rubio.  he was a magician, but also one that made poor passes trying to do it.