NBA Awards: Could We Have Co-Rookie of the Year Winners This Year?
According to a variety of NBA insiders and NBA personalities, there is a strong possibility that the Dallas Mavericks rookie sensation Luka Doncic can hear his name called tonight during the NBA Awards. Doncic averaged 21.2-points, 7.8-rebounds, 6.0 assists per game for Dallas this season.
Former Dallas Maverick forward Cedric Ceballos recently gave Luka Doncic his endorsement for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Luka Doncic should be the Rookie of the Year because of the year-long process of him getting it. Now, this has happened before, ironically in Dallas and in Detriot with Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. Grant Hill got it early and matter fact, I played against Grant Hill on his open day game. He got a loss, but 25 points, I think got 12 rebounds and six assists something like that incredible numbers and he hit a hill.
The closest one to Luka is Trae Young and he came along after All-Star break because he had to figure it out just like Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd’s first couple of months he was trying to figure it out too. Then, once he figured it out boom both of them Hall of Famers, but I don’t how the voting goes. I am still trying to figure out the All-Star vote work because I can’t figure that out.
In my book, Luka Doncic has done it all year. He has made more big plays and more game-changing plays as much as, Trae Young is nicknamed Ice Tray because of his coolness to his name. Luka has been doing it with a smile on his face for 82 games.
He wasn’t the only one reigning ROY Ben Simmons also selected Doncic back in April.
“Same reason as last year. He [Luka Doncic] is playing better, his team’s winning more games. Trae Young is killin’ it. Same as Donovan. But it’s just, overall, I think Luka’s team has played a little better,” said Simmons.
On the other hand, others may think Trae Young’s name will be called tonight such as Donovan Mitchell, Kyle Kuzma, and Blake Griffin. Young averaged 19.1-points, 8.1-assists, 3.7-rebounds in his rookie year for the Atlanta Hawks.
Young also thinks he should be the ROY this and shared that this morning on ESPN First Take. He also doesn’t think he shouldn’t be excluded because it took him some time to adjust to the professional game.
@TheTraeYoung thinks he should won the Rookie of the Year tonight at the NBA Awards and offers his perspective why! #TrueToAtlanta #NBAAwards #ROY pic.twitter.com/InuZMc7fTr
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) June 24, 2019
But, what if the NBA voters decided to name both Doncic Co-Rookie of the Year?
It has happened before most notable back in 1995 with Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. During that season Hill averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Pistons, while Kidd averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Mavericks. It has also happened once before 1995 with Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie in 1970-71 and after in 1999-20 with Elton Brand and Steve Francis.
Enter T.J Kidd, who is the son of Hall of Famer and Los Angles Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd. He recently spoke to Heavy’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson
There’s been a lot of talk about there being Co-Rookie of the Year this year. One of the last times that happened was with my dad and Grant Hill during the 1994-95 season. I think that, of course, it would be cool to see it happen again. I think Luka and Trae are both phenomenal basketball players and will continue to be great as their careers progress. I think they both deserve the award. They both had phenomenal seasons for Dallas and Atlanta. They were a lot of fun to watch this past season. I’m excited to see how the voting goes.
https://twitter.com/ScoopB/status/1143231794764046337
We will just have to see how things turn out tonight.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
