This year's NBA rookie class has been pretty impressive thanks to a plethora of highlight reel plays and just overall flashiness. The leader of the rookies this year has been Dallas Mavericks step-back three-point shooter Luke Doncic. While Doncic has been in a league of his own, Atlanta Hawks rookie Trae Young has been pretty good himself. Young may not have the same highlights package as Doncic but he has put up solid numbers and plays with the kind of fire you could only hope for from a rookie. With the season winding down, Young is confident that he's the best amongst his peers.
"Yeah," Young told Yahoo Sports when asked if he deserves Rookie of the Year. "It's respect. Luka's had a really good year. Deandre (Ayton) even had a really good year. Jaren Jackson Jr., before he got injured, had a really good year. This rookie class is deep, but at the same time, I feel like I'm the best one in it."
Despite a rough start to the season, Young believes he's done more than enough to be considered as the best rookie this year and that he hopes to be recognized come awards season.
"For me, I want to be the best and if being the Rookie of the Year and getting the hardware is going to determine if I'm the best rookie in my class, of course, I want to win it," Young said. "I still believe there is time. I think my month of November, the way I played, the shooting, really hurt me this year."
The Atlanta Hawks are 24-48 this season and are ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference.