ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: DAMIAN LILLARD (unanimous)
Other players receiving votes: None
— See description of each vote below —
Apr 14, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Portland Trailblazers guard Damian Lillard (0) takes the ball down the court during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Fern Rea: Damian Lillard
The Rookie of the Year race, along with the MVP Race, will be near unanimous. Damian Lilliard has started since game one of the Portland Trailblazer’s season and hit the ground running. Lillard leads all rookies in points, assists and minutes played. There is really no other rookie this season that had a stand out season, leaving Lilliard as the only suitable choice.
Caleb Cottrell: Damian Lillard
Everyone thought Anthony Davis would be the ROY at the beginning of the season. With some health issues, the door was wide open for anyone to win the award. Damian Lillard stepped up and ran away with it. Averaging 19 points, 6.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds. He is also shooting 36.7 percent from downtown; not bad considering he has 498 attempts (!!!). This race might have been closer if Davis had been healthy all season and been allowed to play more minutes, but neither of those happened. Lillard wins the Rookie of the Year award in a blowout.
Skyler Gilbert: Damian Lillard
For a Blazers team that had one of the worst benches in NBA history, the starters had to carry an extra load. One of those starters was the rookie point guard out of Weber State–Damian Lillard. Lillard’s load was actually so big that he led the entire NBA in minutes, joining Elvin Hayes and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to ever do that as a rookie. Lillard led all rookies in scoring and assists, edging out Anthony Davis for this award.
Chris Shellcroft: Damian Lillard
Maybe the only category where this is no real argument to be made. Lillard impressed from his first summer league game, to his first preseason game then his first regular season contest. Maybe it’s time to add another award to the NBA banquet: Best First Impression. Lillard takes this going away if for no other reason than being a rookie that stepped in like a vet from day one.
Daniel Nicks: Damian Lillard
Drummond, Davis and Beal have made some noise as of late, but Lillard had this settled by the all-star break.
–Continue for Most Improved Player–