ROY RACE HEATS UP

With a couple of months to go before the conclusion of the 2009-10 NBA regular season, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) derby is fast heating up as perennial superstars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard and darkhorse Kevin Durant, continue their awesome display of all-around brilliance game after game in the hope of getting the nod for the season’s most prestigious individual accolade.

But another race has likewise garnered interest from league observers. The league newbies are having their own battle for the once-in-a-lifetime Rookie of the Year honors. Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks was the early ROY pacesetter after pumping in 55 points in a November win over the Golden State Warriors but has since slipped in the rankings lately. Enter Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings. Evans has consistently dished out impressive performances the last couple of months and is currently on the top of the rookie ladder.

Two of the top ten 2009 draft picks were out of commission from the beginning till the end of the current regular campaign. Top over-all pick Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers saw his debut season banished into the air after injuries forced him to sit out the whole season. While number five pick over-all Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to further hone his skills in the Spanish circuit until next season.

Herewith are the 2009-10 top ten rookies to date with their respective key statistics:

1. TYREKE EVANS, PG (Sacramento Kings)

- 37 MPG

- 20.3 PPG

- 4.8 RPG

- 5.4 APG

- 1.5 SPG

- 46.7% FG

- 26% 3PT

- 76.9% FT

2. STEPHEN CURRY, PG (Golden State Warriors)

- 35 MPG

- 15.3 PPG

- 4.2 RPG

- 5.1 APG

- 1.8 SPG

- 45.8% FG

- 40.7% 3PT

- 87.3% FT

3. DARREN COLLISION, PG (New Orleans Hornets)

- 22.2 MPG

- 9.8 PPG

- 2.4 RPG

- 4.4 APG

- 0.9 SPG

- 44.5% FG

- 31.3% 3PT

- 85.7% FT

4. BRANDON JENNINGS, PG (Milwaukee Bucks)

- 33.1 MPG

- 16.4 PPG

- 3.6 RPG

- 6 APG

- 1.3 SPG

- 37% FG

- 37.9% 3PT

- 80.4% FT

5. MARCUS THORNTON, SG (New Orleans Hornets)

- 21.4 MPG

- 11.6 PPG

- 2.4 RPG

- 1 APG

- 43.5% FG

- 38.9% 3PT

- 80.7% FT

6. JONNY FLYNN, PG (Minnesota Timberwolves)

- 29.1 MPG

- 13.8 PPG

- 2.5 RPG

- 4.3 APG

- 1.1 SPG

- 41.4% FG

- 35.7% 3PT

- 81.5% FT

7. TY LAWSON, PG (Denver Nuggets)

- 22 MPG

- 9.2 PPG

- 2.1 RPG

- 3.4 APG

- 51.3% FG

- 42.9% 3PT

- 77.8% FT

8. OMRI CASSPI, SF (Sacramento Kings)

- 28.6 MPG

- 12 PPG

- 5 RPG

- 1.4 APG

- 46.7% FG

- 38.5% 3PT

- 66.7% FT

9. CHASE BUDINGER, G/F (Houston Rockets)

- 19.5 MPG

- 8.7 PPG

- 2.9 RPG

- 1.2 APG

- 42% FG

- 36.5% 3PT

- 77.4% FT

10. JONAS JEREBKO, F (Detroit Pistons)

- 26.5 MPG

- 8.8 PPG

- 5.6 RPG

- 48.8% FG

- 27% 3PT

- 68.5% FT