NBA Awards 2019: 3 reasons why Trae Young should win the Rookie of the Year Award

As hard as it may be to be an NBA player, some rookies come in with a focus which helps them excel in comparison to some of their fellow players. They are ready from the first tip of their career to make an impact on their team and help lead them to the playoffs and an eventual NBA championship.

The nominees for the Rookie of the Year award this season are Trae Young, Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton — three talented young players. However, Trae Young has the slightest edge over the other two to win the award, here's why.

#3: Trae Young Is the Best Shooter of His Class

The landscape of the NBA is constantly changing. 20 years ago, if you asked someone what it took to survive in the NBA, they would say a strong and dominant big man like Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan should be the cornerstone of your team. In the modern-day NBA, the likes of Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have completely changed the game to a point where every single player is expected to be able to shoot from anywhere on the court. This is bound to make draft classes even more competitive than they already are.

In the 2018 draft class, there were many who proved themselves and some who are yet to establish themselves in the league. Trae Young established himself as the best shooter in the draft much before he joined the NBA. He was a sniper in college and dominated the Summer League and Preseason. Many weren’t sure if this would translate into regular play in the NBA, and this led to many doubting Youngs abilities.

Throughout the season, however, Young was able to prove over and over again why he is the best shooter in the 2018 class. While streaky, we saw flashes of his great range and ability to stay calm in tense situations. This resulted in several clutches and much needed three-point bombs by the young shooter when the Hawks needed it the most.

#2: Young Leads the Rookie Class in Total Points and Assists

When looking at season averages, Doncic seems like the logical choice for the Rookie of the Year. He averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6 assists per game. What Doncic did was without a doubt impressive, but Young racked up more total points and assists to lead the 2018 class.

Young finished with 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game. However, he finished the season with a total of 1549 points as opposed to Doncic's 1526, and 653 assists as opposed to 429 by Doncic. Trae Young was able to put points on the board while also setting up his teammates for easy and open shots.

Young was able to accomplish this feat while playing 1.3 fewer minutes than Doncic did. Granted, he did play in all but one game throughout the season while Doncic played in 72 games.

#1: Young Is a Leader at the PG Position

While both DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic did an exceptional job at the center and shooting guard position respectively, it can be argued that Trae Young had to carry the most responsibility on his shoulders.

Being the point guard on a team means you are there to lead the team. You are the decision maker on the court and dictate the pace at which your team plays. A lot of times, it is your initial decision of what to do with the ball that unravels the remainder of the possession. This is what Trae Young was tasked with every time the Hawks had the ball.

Young was able to balance his responsibilities of scoring and distributing the ball beautifully to get the most out of not only himself but his team as well. His 8.1 assists and 19.1 points per game are clear indicators that he is a great point guard and can handle to pressures of the position. He scores when he is needed to, and makes the right decision with extra passes when he is needed to.