The Cleveland Cavaliers first-round pick, Collin Sexton, was given a three percent chance to win the most prestigious rookie award, Rookie of the Year.
Collin Sexton, also known as the Young Bull, has overcome disadvantages his whole life, and now it’s time for the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard to do it again. Sexton was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
In a recent panel taken by the sports-media goliath, ESPN predicted that the Rookie of the Year award is Luka Doncic’s to lose.
Doncic was awarded 58% of the votes while Cavaliers’ guard Sexton received just three percent, the same chance as the Bulls’ Wendell Carter Jr., the Kings’ Marvin Bagley and the Knicks’ Kevin Knox.
Luka Doncic is the clear favorite for our panelists, but who do you think will be this season's ROY? pic.twitter.com/UqCzrlPKdL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 7, 2018
It’s really odd seeing Doncic receive so much love.
Of all these players, Knox seems to be getting the most disrespect. The already disrespected former Wildcat was shockingly drafted at No. 9 yet absolutely balled out in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Given the performance of Trae Young in the Las Vegas Summer League, it’s surprising to see him given a 0% as well.
As for Collin Sexton, it’s intriguing to see him only given three percent. The former University of Alabama point guard was an absolute dog in the Summer League. How can you forget when he flexed Josh Hart into shooting and bricking a three at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime?
Sexton’s 19.6 points per game were the fifth most among players that played in at least five games. He also tagged on 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in the reduced minutes that the NBA-ready prospects played in the summer league.
Sexton was awarded a spot on the Summer League’s All-First team.
Sexton’s case for ROY should be twofold.
His usage should be sky high in comparison to other rookies given the stock that Cleveland has in him. If the Cavs plan to use him as the guard of the future might as well give him the minutes he deserves. Those minutes should turn into raw production, albeit they could be empty stats.
The second fact could be the Cavs success. The Mavs and Suns both are looking on the outside in while the Cavs could very likely be a playoff team if Sexton becomes an efficient and productive rookie.
Just like MVP, this award might be all on how the panel views success. Is it team-based or numbers-based? If it’s a true combination, does that benefit Sexton? Becuase if it is, I think he’s got a far better than chance than most think.