Dario Saric and Joel Embiid Not Alone in the Race for Rookie of the Year

What was once a clear-cut race for Joel Embiid has become an up-for-grabs contest as Dario Saric and Malcolm Brogdon close out the season also in the running for Rookie of the Year.

Had Embiid stayed healthy all season, there was little question he would take home the honors. He had swept every month he had played and dominated the statistical leaderboards. When he was sidelined in February, that created the opportunity for other players to enter to chase.

Dario Saric has won back-to-back Rookie of the Month honors since then, but it hasn't been without competition. Malcolm Brogdon has been making a case in a different way than Saric and Embiid did.

With one week left in the regular season, there is an argument to be made for all three rookies. Yes, that still includes Embiid. Between a seven-foot center, a 6-foot-10 forward and a 6-foot-5 guard, they all bring different skillsets to the court. That makes the voting even trickier; there is no clear comparison of their games.

Joel Embiid
- Games played: 31 (31 starts)
- Minutes: 25.4
- Points: 20.2
- Shooting: 46.6% FG, 36.7% 3PG, 78.3% FT
- Rebounds: 7.8
- Assists: 2.1
- Blocks: 2.45
- Double-doubles: 9

The case for Embiid: Embiid was a beast when he played. He impacted the game in every statistical category, bolstered the team defense and spread the floor with his versatility in a way that changed the way the Sixers ran their offense. Embiid recorded two 30-point games, 17 20-point games, nine 10-rebound games, and never scored fewer than nine points in a single contest. Based on season averages, Embiid ranks second among all players, not just rookies, in blocks. His performance was so strong he was a candidate to make the All-Star Team. Embiid put up these numbers while under a minute restriction that only went as high as 28.

The case against Embiid: The thing about Embiid being a beast when he played is that he only played in 31 games. The Sixers did not play him in both games of back-to-back series as part of their management plan in his first season since missing two years because of foot injuries. On top of that, his season was cut short by a meniscus tear in his left knee. He has not played since Jan. 27. Even though Embiid put up monster numbers in comparison to not just rookies but also the rest of the league, his lack of minutes and games played will count against him.

Dario Saric
- Games played: 79 (34 starts)
- Minutes: 26.3
- Points: 12.8
- Shooting: 41.1%  FG, 31.4% percent 3PG, 77.9 FT
- Rebounds: 6.3
- Assists: 2.2
- Double-doubles: 10

The case for Saric: When the Sixers lost Embiid and traded a large chunk of their frontcourt production, Saric excelled in the role as go-to player. In March, he averaged 18.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 31.7 minutes in 17 games (all starts). He became only the 11th rookie in Sixers history to score 1,000 points in a season, joining Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley and Hersey Hawkins, among others. Saric scored in double-digits 22 straight games. During that stretch he recorded six double-doubles and reached a career-high 32 points, 15 rebounds and 40 minutes played. Saric has made it his mission to appear in all 82 games this season.

The case against Saric: The Sixers' record could be a factor when it comes to voting. Saric's numbers have skyrocketed at a time in the season when the Sixers have struggled. Do standout stats in a loss count for more than not-as-high numbers in a win? That remains to be seen. Saric is battling through plantar fasciitis as the season winds down and is limited to 24 minutes per game. Because of this, his numbers to end the season will not be as strong as the previous two months.

Malcolm Brogdon
- Games played: 73 (26 starts)
- Minutes: 26.5
- Points: 10.3
- Shooting: 45.7% FG, 40.4% 3PG, 86.5% FT
- Rebounds: 2.8
- Assists: 4.3
- Steals: 1.14
- Double-doubles: 2
- Triple-doubles: 1

The case for Brogdon: Brogdon's edge is that he is putting up these numbers as a contributor on a playoff team. The Bucks are 40-39 and currently sixth in the Eastern Conference. He is the first rookie in Bucks' franchise history to record a triple-double, and the only rookie in the league to do so this season. Brogdon has scored in double-digits 43 times and 20-plus points twice. He is putting up these numbers on a team where he is not the focus of the offense. Three active players on the Bucks are ahead of him in scoring, including Giannis Antetokounmpo who is averaging 23.1 points per game. Brogdon's rookie year also is noteworthy because he is exceeding expectations as the 36th pick in last year's draft.

The case against Brogdon: There is one frame of mind that Brogdon is playing well because he is on a playoff-contending team with established players around him to make him better. His scoring production is not as high as Embiid and Saric, which is often a strong criterion when comparing players. Like Saric, Brogdon is dealing with injuries late in the season. He has missed the last four games with back soreness and is not expected to play Saturday against the Sixers.