Lamelo Ball. Anthony Edwards. First is one of the most exciting young point guards in the NBA, averaging 15.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 6.1 APG for the Charlotte Hornets. The latter seems to be one of the Minnesota Timberwolves' most reliable scorers, putting up 19.3 PPG and shooting 41.7 percent from the field. Both excelled during their first season and provided their teams with hope and enthusiasm for the future.
But there is only one (reportedly) Rookie of the Year.
Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Ball, who followed his brother Lonzo Ball in the NBA this season, has won the NBA's 2020-21 Rookie of the Year award. The ball immediately showed that he was an NBA-caliber point guard, throwing highlight-reel passes to his teammates and generally looking more comfortable out there than any rookie. But does it guarantee him a pick over an electric young scorer like Edwards, who rewarded the Timberwolves' confidence in picking him first in last year's draft?
As always, the NBA as a whole had some ideas about selection, even on such a busy NBA news day, starting with Edwards' team and Karl-Anthony Towns:
lol
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 16, 2021
😂😂😂
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) June 16, 2021
Meanwhile, Edwards quoted-tweeted an account saying it would only propel him to a season of huge sophistication.
— Anthony Edwards (@theantedwards_) June 16, 2021
For LaMelo and some of his Charlotte Hornet teammates, however, the mood was celebratory.
it’s uppp brudda 🕺🏽🛸💕 https://t.co/zQNXT9E0Sg
— Melo (@MELOD1P) June 16, 2021
Told y’all 😂🤷🏾 https://t.co/wTtQDhfYxf
— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) June 16, 2021
Regardless of whether it was the right choice or not, it is great to see the future of the league in such good hands.