DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - After a long wait, Luka Doncic will finally find out tonight if he'll be crowned the Rookie of the Year.
The three finalists for #KiaROY... @DeandreAyton, @luka7doncic, and @TheTraeYoung!The 2019 #NBAAwards air TONIGHT, 9:00pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/lAenHfEN4h
— NBA (@NBA)
June 24, 2019 Doncic and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young are the favorites to win the Rookie of the Year award that will be announced during the league's award show on June 24. Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton joins Doncic and Young as the three finalists for the award.
Despite the second-half surge from Young, Doncic is the odds-on favorite to win the award. Some Vegas bookmakers even paid out bettors who had wagered on Doncic to win in the middle of the season.
Doncic was asked about the battle between he and Young during a sit-down with Shams Charania ahead of the ceremony tonight.
“I’m confident, but even if I think I am, I’m never going to say it ... I’m going to keep it to myself. It’s just different characters,” Doncic said.
Mavericks Rookie of the Year favorite @luka7doncic on ROY battle with Trae Young: “I’m confident, but even if I think I am, I’m never going to say it ... I’m going to keep it to myself. It’s just different characters.” pic.twitter.com/pOwLlGEde0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
June 24, 2019 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. He 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.
The Slovenian averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game last season.
