2017-18 NBA Award Predictions: Donovan Mitchell wins Rookie of the Year

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speaks with the media after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Donovan Mitchell deserves to be the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year – and yes we can feel that hate already.

Ben Simmons showed us all season long why patience is such a key component of success in the NBA. His offensive and defensive prowess all year-long surprised a lot of fans, analysts, and even some of his own friends and family on the big screen. And while Mitchell and Simmons are the same age (21), only one of them had a year to prepare as an NBA player.

The rules state that Ben Simmons is a rookie, and most of the Donovan Mitchell fans out there will hone in on that it’s not fair that Simmons isn’t recorded as a 2nd year player, but that isn’t our argument.

Donovan Mitchell deserves to be Rookie of the Year, strictly because he deserves to be Rookie of the Year.

The Utah Jazz were projected to be a lottery team when Gordon Hayward announced his decision to join the Boston Celtics, it only took the 13th pick in the 2017 draft to change the direction of the entire franchise.

Mitchell helped lead the Utah Jazz to the 2nd round of the playoffs, arguably outperforming former-MVP Russell Westbrook in the 1st round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mitchell finished his playoff debut with a 4-1 series against the Houston Rockets – seemingly unmatched against the fire power of Houston.

While you could argue that statistics of Mitchell against Simmons and compare their difference of their all-around games, or argue their teams success in the playoffs, you can come to the conclusion that they both aren’t that different in comparison.

Simmons averaged an approximate stat-line of 16 PPG, 8 REB, and 8 ASTS and Mitchell averaged 21 PPG, 4 REB, and 4 ASTS. Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Utah Jazz lost in their second round series’ in a 4-1 bout.

But when the Utah Jazz other best player is arguably the best defensive big man in the league, but doesn’t contribute on offense (Rudy Gobert), and the Philadelphia 76ers other best player is arguably the best defensive and offensive big men in the league (Joel Embiid), we should be looking more closely at this Rookie of the Year nomination and who has the most help to be great.

Putting Ben Simmons on a Utah Jazz team with their best players being Rudy Gobert and Ricky Rubio, you may be getting a 8th or 9th seeded team in the Western Conference – maybe even a 10th seed.

Putting Donovan Mitchell on a stacked Philadelphia 76ers team of shooters and defensive studs, you may be getting a 3rd or 4th seeded team in the Eastern Conference – maybe even a 2nd seed.

While this is a huge hypothetical, is there really that much of a difference when considering every factor in these two players? Remember this award isn’t arguing who will have a better future, it’s just who had a better rookie year with what they had on their teams and franchises.

Oh yeah, shout out Jayson Tatum – you’re pretty good (*Triggers Celtics fans*).

Timberwolves Rookie of the Year:

*Crickets*