Mavs' rookie Luka Doncic had been crowned as the winner in the first half of the season after he took the league by storm, becoming one of the rising stars in the league. Seeing that Luka was a virtual lock to win the award, My Bookie Sportsbook paid out betting tickets with Doncic as the winner back in February.
However, Trae Young erupted after the All-Star break, averaging 25.8 points, 9.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. Young's recent played prompted Donovan Mitchell, Kyle Kuzman and Blake Griffin to all declare on social media that he should win the award.
Enter tonight, where the reigning Rookie of the Year winner is in town to take on the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.
"Trae Young is killing it. ... Same as Donovan (Mitchell). Overall, I just think the team is playing a little better and he's (Luka) just doing a little bit more."
For his part, Doncic is averaging 21.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Doncic has seven triple-doubles while Young has only one.
Doncic became the first player NBA history 19 years-old or younger to score 1,100 points in a season before the All-Star break, according to Ellias Sports. Doncic has since turned 20-years-old on Feb. 28.
Earlier this season, Justin Kubatko of StatMuse reported that Doncic became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to record at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in four straight games.
Doncic and Jordan are the only rookies to have reached the feat since the ABA-NBA merger.