Rookies vote Kevin Durant favorite player over Kobe Bryant
By Jacob Rude
In another example of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant‘s stature in the league diminishing, the annual rookie surveyed returned that Kevin Durant, not Bryant, was the rookies’ favorite player in the league.
The survey, conducted by NBA.com’s John Schuhmann, includes every rookie apart of the draft class. Since the survey started in 2007-08, Bryant was the selection by rookies as their favorite player in the league, marking this the first time it was anyone but the Black Mamba.
Durant had an even 25% of the selection, with Bryant coming in second at 19.4%. LeBron James was third at 12.5%, with Carmelo Anthony fourth and Paul George fifth at 8.3% and 5.6%, respectively.
The decision signals an official new era, with incoming players having grown up in the rise James and Durant, too far removed from the prime of Bryant. Bryant’s 81-point game was eight years ago, dating back to the early teen years of many of the rookies.
Among the other categories rookies selected players for included 2014-15 Rookie of the Year, won by Jabari Parker with a resounding 52.8% of the vote. Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle was among others receiving votes, as he was in the rookie class’ best defender and funniest rookie categories.
The biggest shock, though, was his place in the rookie of the year standings, considering Shabazz Napier, Doug McDermott, and Elfrid Payton all finished ahead of him in voting.
Perhaps no rookie will be entering a better situation than Randle. Not only will he not be asked to lead a team, he may not even be starting given the acquisition of Carlos Boozer. Still, Randle is expected to receive big minutes and will have plenty of opportunities to impress.
Let us know down below if you think Randle is the most likely to receive rookie of the year. Also, has Bryant’s reign over the league ended entirely, now?