Luka Doncic is the Rookie of the Year.



This has been evident for months, clear enough that one betting service called the race for Doncic in early February. Doncic’s own case, if anything, has become even better since then. The certainty spoke to Doncic’s excellence as he constructed one of the greatest teenaged seasons ever, but also about the field, steeped with prospects who boast promising futures and bright moments but simply couldn’t match Doncic’s own brilliance.



Then came Trae Young, who scored 36 points in consecutive games and then dropped 49 in the next, a three-game performance that signaled to basketball talk shows, “Hold up, now, wait just a minute.” We crave competition and debate. It’s understandable that uncertainty was cast unto the Rookie of the Year award, especially as multiple players voiced their support for Young. This is not a Trae Young hit piece. His inaugural season has been remarkable, dripping...