NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates

1. O.J. Mayo has emerged as the top scorer of the 2008-2009 rookie class, leading the pack by averaging 20.1 points per game. In his first year out of USC, Mayo is adding 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals. His percentages are excellent for all players, let alone rookies, with a clip of 89% from the free throw line, 41% shooting from beyond the arc, and 46% from the field. If the season ended today, he would be in a tight race with Derrick Rose for the 2008-2009 Rookie of the Year Award.

2. Derrick Rose, the Bulls’ new starting point guard and first overall 2008 NBA draft selection, is comfortably leading all rookies in assists with 6.1 per game; his assist-to-turnover ratio also leads the rookie pack with 2.22 assists for each turnover. He trails only Mayo among first year scorers with 17.5 points per game, adding 3.7 rebounds, and an impressive 47.2% field goal percentage from the guard position.

3. Russell Westbrook, has stepped in as the starting point guard for the struggling Thunder, filling up the stat sheet in the process. Overall, Westbrook is averaging 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Westbrook’s main weakness has been a turnover problem, committing 3.1 in 29.4 minutes per game, more than any other rookie. With is aerial expertise, Westbrook is a candidate for the slam dunk contest on the All-Star weekend.