Kurt Helin
3. Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
LaMelo Ball wins this one comfortably. It wasn’t just the jaw-dropping passes gone viral that started almost day one, nor was it how much better he was shooting from three or on defense than expected. It’s how all of that impacted winning — Ball helped lift up the Hornets and get them to the play-in game. He was essential for them in a way few rookies are to a team.
Anthony Edwards came on late and in the final couple of months of the season was clearly the second-best player in this class, and if you only looked at those months you could make a case he deserves this award.