Former Jayhawk Joel Embiid deserved top NBA rookie award
By Stan Unruh
Kansas basketball fans hoped another former Jayhawk might get a top NBA honor. Joel Embiid deserved the Rookie of the Year award.
Kansas basketball fans enjoyed seeing a pair of Jayhawks selected in last week’s NBA draft. The NBA disappointed them Monday. Former Jayhawk Joel Embiid was edged out for the league’s Rookie of the Year.
The NBA named Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Buck Rookie of the Year. I just don’t understand and don’t agree with that. I am obviously biased since Embiid played for Bill Self. We all wish he’d been healthy enough to play just a little longer. He is an amazing talent. Brodgon, a guard, won the first award Monday night during the first NBA Awards show.
Embiid and his Philadelphia 76ers teammate Dario Saric were finalists for the Rookie of the Rookie of the Year honor.
Congrats to Malcom for the award.. you deserve it #ROY
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 27, 2017
I wanted another Jayhawk as Rookie of the Year. Former Jayhawk Andrew Wiggins won the award for the 2014-15 season. Maybe it’s not that important. There is no mention of the Rookie of the Year Award on Wiggins’ Minnesota Timberwolves bio?
As a matter of fact, Embiid had the strongest stats among finalists for the award. He averaged over 20 points a game and almost 8 rebounds and just over 2 blocks shots. It is unfortunate he was limited to just 31 games because of injuries.
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If there is any consolation for Kansas basketball fans, the NBA did name Embiid to the All-Rookie team. When you take into consideration the surgeries, rehab and more, Embiid is among the top stories in Philly and across the NBA. It is a story the league needed to honor with their top Rookie award.