Why Chicago Bulls F Nikola Mirotic is Co-Rookie of The Year

Mar 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) before the game against the Toronto Raptors at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s be fair, it’s Andrew Wiggins‘ award to lose.

The Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard has been the most consistent rookie overall in the league this season and most pundits have had him pegged as the favored recipient of the award for quite some time.

However, in recent weeks Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic has taken his game to new heights, and his emergence has had many fans and sportswriters thinking that it’s no longer a one horse race. It should be noted, it’s a panel of US and Canadian sportswriters that ultimately vote on the winner of the award.

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So with that said, has Mirotic done enough this season to topple Wiggins from the top rookie spot in most of that panels’ minds? With his recent form since the All-Star break, some would argue yes. I personally think he may have started his run a little too late and that certain factors are working against him (lack of playing time, cumulative stat totals) in him solely snatching the award away from Wiggins. In saying that, allow me to wonder out loud Derrick Rose style for a second and possibly talk my thought into existence, WHY CAN’T MIROTIC BE CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?

He can and I think he will be, and there is a compelling argument why. The first-year Bull has had the biggest impact on his team than any other rookie this season; his effective use of at times sporadic and limited court time (he has played 11 games where he logged fewer than 10 mins per game) has often translated to wins on a deep team that is playoff bound. The same can’t be said for his counterpart Wiggins, who has benefited from nearly 35 minutes per game and has been a first option on offense in a prominent starting role. As ESPN’s Michael Wilbon pointed out in this excellent piece, Wiggins has improved with every month that has passed, however, “he hasn’t had any measurable impact on an awful team.”

Simply put, nobody is checking for Wiggins and the Wolves after April 15.

Now some of you might be thinking, but Mirotic is only averaging 9.7 PPG and 5 RPG this season. This is true; however, he’s leading all rookies in PER (18.09), and let it be said, that his 9.7 PPG is still respectable enough for second place in rookie scoring behind Wiggins.

Here’s a little list of some of his other accomplishments for you to mull over…

December 19^th Mirotic serves up a then career-high 27 points and helps bring an end to the Grizzlies’ winning streak versus Eastern Conference teams.
Rookie of the Month for December.
Chipped in 16 points for the World team who were victorious against Team USA in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend. Wiggins scores 22 for Team USA.
Bulls scoring leader 9 times this season.

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Milwaukee Bucks: Regrading the questionable Nikola Mirotic tradeBehind the Buck Pass

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Milwaukee Bucks: Nikola Mirotic to reportedly sign overseas deal with BarcelonaBehind the Buck Pass

Of course, Wiggins has also notched up his fair share of Rookie of the Month honors (4 straight months to be exact) and has had some outstanding games (heck he even dropped a career-high 33 on LeBron), but over the last month Mirotic has been playing out of his mind.

The Bulls rookie has not only averaged 20.8 PPG for the month, but he’s produced eight 20+ point games (Wiggins has 6), notched a career high of 29 points in a win over the Toronto Raptors and just passed Marcus Smart for most 3-pointers by a rookie this season. Of even more importance, he’s leading the Bulls in fourth-quarter scoring; in fact, he has the most fourth quarter points in the NBA and per game since March 1^st

What’s even more impressive is when you look at the two names in both of those categories he’s ahead of – LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.

In Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson’s absence, Mirotic has played every game this month and sparked an offense that at times has become sluggish and visibly lacked the athleticism and scoring power of his three aforementioned teammates. This is while playing in a front line that consists of two former All-Stars in Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah. It’s been Mirotic’s consistent and clutch play that has helped keep the Bulls ahead in the standings (8-7 record during March) while his injured teammates have been sidelined. Meanwhile, Wiggins’ Wolves have been licking their wounds, after a terrible 3-13 stretch in the same time.

Whilst a lot has recently been made of Mirotic carrying the load for the Bulls, the (sort of) problem the Bulls brass may face with playoff minutes distribution and his ROY candidacy, the 6’10″ multi-faceted forward is less than concerned with whether he’s deserving of the award. It seems he’s just enjoying relishing in the beauty of the moment.

With only eight games remaining on the Bulls schedule, perhaps we should too, however it would be a welcomed and suitable reward if Mirotic’s patient approach, hard work and team first mentality landed him on the podium alongside Wiggins receiving the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy for his efforts.

Don’t count Niko out; history has a funny way of repeating itself.

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