2015 NBA Award Picks: MVP, ROY, MIP, DPOY, COY

Rookie of the Year

Mar 30, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) celebrates his dunk in the second quarter against the Utah Jazz at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota)

Runner-Up: Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia)

Considering the hype surrounding this particular draft class, underwhelming feels like the right word to describe rookie performances across the board, but there are so many individual moments one can refer to that justifies why this class received all its hype.

And no player provided more moments than Minnesota rookie Andrew Wiggins, as well as solid play throughout the seasons, despite expected inconsistencies. He’s had his ups and downs like the rest of the rookie and may not have been the best rookie in regards to ceiling (that may be Nikola Mirotic), but over the course of the season, I believe Wiggins has the best case for this award thanks to his work on both sides of the floor.

Tom West:

Winner: Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota)

Runner-Up: Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia)

Very honorable mention: Nikola Mirotic (Chicago)

Despite Noel’s performance as a complete defensive machine, this award has to go to Andrew Wiggins. He’s not only showed off his defensive potential like we all expected (with his high-flying rejections and using his length to bother everyone nearby) but he’s also showcased his rapidly improving offensive skill set.

Wiggins isn’t just a dunking highlight reel. He’s a star in the making. Despite being given such a heavy load in his rookie year (as he’s played the second most minutes out of anyone in the NBA this season) he’s delivered, most notably with his 16.9 points per game and four Rookie of the Month awards.

As great as some of this year’s rookies have been, it’s simply a race for second place among everyone else.