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Duke in the NBA: Jayson Tatum Comes in Third Rookie of the Year Voting

By Kevin Connelly

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics warms up before Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics warms up before Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Jayson Tatum had a marvelous rookie season in the NBA, but the former Duke star was not able to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

In one season in the NBA, there isn’t much Jayson Tatum has not done.

The Boston Celtics rookie led the injury-depleted Celtics to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals where they ultimately fell to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavilers.

At the second annual NBA Awards, Tatum came in third place in the Rookie of the Year voting behind winner Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell.

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Despite Tatum being the last one of the three players remaining in the NBA Playoffs the Rookie of the Year Award is given out solely on a player’s accomplishments in the regular season.

Simmons was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but after sitting out the entire 2016-17 season with a foot injury, Simmons finally suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2017-18 season and averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game.

The second place finalist, Donovan Mitchell, was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, but a draft night trade sent the former Louisville star to the Utah Jazz where he excelled and led the Jazz to the playoffs.

Mitchell averaged 20.5 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game as he took over the lead role as Gordon Hayward departed for Boston in the offseason.

As for Tatum, he was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics after they traded back with the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade days before the draft.

Tatum averaged 13.9 points, 1.6 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in his first year in the NBA, shooting 47.5% from the floor and a vastly improved 43.4% from three-point range.

Despite not winning the Rookie of the Year Award, Jayson Tatum has shown the NBA world that he is ready for superstardom and he will be getting buckets for a long time.

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