Three Reasons Why Jaden Ivey Will Win Rookie Of The Year
It’s not every year that a prospect of Jaden Ivey’s caliber falls to No. 5 overall, however, Detroit capitalized on this opportunity this past Thursday and fans are already eager to see this high-flying acrobat establish his presence as a Piston and create an electrifying atmosphere in Little Ceaser’s Arena for years to come. Like all the top prospects, Ivey will look to make a run for this upcoming Rookie Of The Year Award, and these are three reasons why he might just do it.
1. HE'S A STUD
Simply put, this Boilermaker product is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. The sophomore standout averaged 17.3 points and 3.1 assists this past season and carried the majority of his team’s offense on his back as the primary ball-handler. Standing at 6-4, his combo-gaurd archetype and good size gives him plenty of opportunity and potential to be Detroit’s flashy bucket-getter next to Cade Cunningham.
When it comes to skill, Ivey’s attributes speak for themselves. His Ja Morant-esque vertical ability and downhill speed, power and aggression drawing comparisons to Russell Westbrook has him in a league of his own when it comes to raw athleticism. His first step is unmatched and will have even the NBA’s premier defenders on their heels trying to keep up with the flashy burst and skillful maneuvers that Ivey effortlessly showcases.
Though his subpar shooting from three and midrange must be addressed, Ivey is no stranger to improvement. Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, his three-point percentage increased by an outlandish 10% while attempting 0.8 more three-point field goals per game. If he were to continue this trend in developing his shot, fans should not be too worried about his transition to shooting in the NBA. Only time will tell how well he develops into the next Pistons’ star, however, his ability to be an exceptional athlete who can run in transition allows him to maximize his potential next to a playmaking, pass-first guard in Cunningham.
2. LAST SEASON’S ROTY FORMULA
Aside from his freakish athleticism, Ivey’s ability to impact winning in Detroit will make him a frontrunner in this upcoming ROTY race. As seen last year, Cunningham’s late-season heroics ceased to be enough to line him up alongside Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes - both of whom “led” their teams to playoff appearances. Though both players had legitimate All Stars on their teams - which was the primary reason for overall success - the wins were attributed to the rookies’ individual performances. The importance placed upon winning as a rookie was crucial in the previous ROTY race and will continue to be vital in seasons to come.
Detroit’s young core, combined with veteran leadership and possible splashes in free agency, has the potential to be a fringe team in the Eastern Confrence and possibly make a first round playoff appearance. The same can not be said for Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic, who still have a ways to go in order to solidify their lineup and make the leap in their rebuilding process. Furthermore, the Houston Rockets and Jabari Smith Jr., Oklahoma City Thunder and Chet Holmgren and the Sacramento Kings and Keegan Murray, will be faced with the cosmic challenge of duking it out with a heavily talented Western Confrence and are predicted to barely miss the play-in tournament.
When it comes to the top prospects in this 2022 class, Ivey is best equipped with the tools and skill set, in addition to improved play by Cunnigham and Saddiq Bey, to show for a colossal change in the win column compared to previous years. If all works out, fans are in for exciting run to make the playoffs come April 2023 and Ivey will reap the benefits of the team’s immediate success during ROTY voting.
3. TEAM FIT
There is no question that Ivey seamlessly fits alongside the young core that Troy Weaver has carefully constructed. As a guard, he will share ball-handling responsibilities with Cunningham and with the departure of leading scorer Jerami Grant, there will be plenty of opportunities for Ivey to take shots and rim run. Last season, Cunningham was constantly double teamed, which led to decreased efficiency and increased turnovers. With the addition of Ivey, teams will no longer be able to prioritize Cunningham as much in their defensive game plans as the offense can be facilitated by either of them. The synergy of this duo forms a dangerous backcourt that can feed off of one another on all three levels and be a major problem to game plan for.
Ivey’s projected role within the Pistons organization showcases his abilities far more than any of the selected prospects. Banchero is a mismatch nightmare that can take control of his team offensively. However, with him playing alongside Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, he will not be an on-ball scorer and will have to work much harder for his shots. That being said, Banchero will likely give Ivey the most competition when it comes to this race.
Homlgren and Smith are exceptional players, however, they will be overshadowed on their respective teams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey will run most of the OKC offense and take away from Holmgren's opportunities. It is a known fact that Holmgren does not have an NBA-ready body when it comes to interior and post play, so his options will be limited during his first few seasons. Smith, on the other hand, must play Robin to Jalen Green, who is the primary offensive weapon in Houston’s scheme and often gets tunnel vision when it comes to scoring. Smith will standout on defense amongst a lack luster defensive team, but its effects would be little to none when it comes down to the ROTY race.
Murray, though overlooked, may have success on the Kings roster. However, his role will be minimized next to De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell and Domantas Sabonis, all of whom make up most of Sacremento’s offense.
The 2022 NBA Draft was known to be top heavy, however, Ivey may possess the highest ceiling of all prospects. He is an incredible scoring talent that will revolutionize the Pistons’ offense this upcoming season and will contend for ROTY. Something’s brewing in Detroit and the league will take notice.
