Zion Williamson is getting a late start in the ROTY of the Year race, late enough that he’s probably not even going to be in contention for the award. Then again, the voters don’t necessarily have any idea who the best rookie is and why it’s Ja Morant, so I’m never really surprised by the crazy votes that are cast. For example, Josh Okogie got a vote last season. Not a first-place vote, but a vote nonetheless. Remember when Rodney McGruder got a vote? DownToBuck remembers.
If Williamson really wants to make a run at ROTY of the year, he has to achieve all or at least most of the following goals:
Guaranteed ROTY of the Year Goal #1: Don’t get injured again. If he does get injured again, play through the injury.
Guaranteed ROTY of the Year Goal #2: Have more crazy rapidfire scoring performances like he did in his debut.
Guaranteed ROTY of the Year Goal #3: Average 25/10/5 on 60% shooting for the rest of the season.
Guaranteed ROTY of the Year Goal #3.5: No more fifteen point games.
Guaranteed ROTY of the Year Goal #4: Lead the Pelicans to not just the playoffs, but the SECOND ROUND of the playoffs.
Guaranteed ROTY of the Year Goal #5: Appear in a low-budget video made by the understaffed Pelicans video team where he does an awkward dance and lips-syncs a song that has the lyrics “I’m the rookie of the year” while a really basic Fruity Loops drum beat plays in the background (take care not to have the awkward dance be so vigorous that it causes unintended knee damage).
If Williamson can do all of these things, the voters for ROTY of the Year will be sufficiently dazzled that he’ll defy all expectations and win the damn thing.