Miami Heat undrafted rookie Kendrick Nunn has been a surprise sensation for fans and experts alike this season.
According to Nunn himself, however, his success in the NBA seemed to always be a matter of when, not if. The 24-year-old rookie is supremely confident in his abilities, and in a recent interview with Shams Charania of Stadium, he stated that he should already be considered the Rookie of the Year.
Right now, Nunn is second among all rookies in points per game (16.9) behind only Ja Morant (19.0). He is also third in assists per game (3.2) behind R.J. Barrett (3.5) and Morant (6.2).
Considering these numbers, it looks like Morant is right now in the lead for the award. That being said, Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies have stumbled to a 5-11 record on the season while Nunn’s Heat are 12-4.
If team success will factor into the voters’ decision-making process by season’s end remains to be seen.
In the end, whether or not Nunn wins the award matters not. He has proven that he is a serious commodity in the NBA and will likely enjoy a long and successful career from here on out.
Here’s hoping the rest of it is spent right here in South Florida.