The problem with Cade Cunningham’s Rookie of the Year totals

Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons came third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting this season, which wasn’t really a surprise.

The Raptors’ Scottie Barnes won the award, with Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers coming in second in one of the tightest races in the history of the award.

All three players were great this season and I have no problem with Barnes and Mobley finishing ahead of Cade Cunningham, mostly because I think it is going to add even more motivation to Cade’s offseason.

Barnes and Mobley are both on better teams that went to the playoffs and had comparable stats to Cade, so it’s easy to argue their cases.

If I had a vote, I would have voted for Cade Cunningham, as I think he is the best player and that this particular award should go to the best player even though the Detroit Pistons only won 23 games this season.

But I totally understand and won’t lose any sleep over it, as I said, the other two have strong cases as well and I am clearly biased.

However, there are three voters who have some explaining to do about their ballots.

Cade Cunningham left off Rookie of the Year ballots

I can understand giving Cade Cunningham your third place vote, but three voters left him off of their ballots altogether.

This just reeks of NBA hipsterdom, as there is no way Cunningham was not one of the top-3 rookies this season.

I love Herbert Jones and think he’s been a revelation for the Pelicans, but he’s not as good as Cade and that’s an objective fact. If Cade’s only job was to play defense and then stand in the corner on offense, he could be Herb Jones, sorry.

Frank Wagner not only had worse stats than Cade in a complementary role but was on an even worse team than the Detroit Pistons, so I don’t see how anyone could justify giving him a vote over Cade.

Evan Mobley was left off a ballot as well, which again has the stink of a voter just trying to be different and look like the smartest person in the room.

I think you can debate who will end up being the better player out of Jalen Green and Evan Mobley, but it’s hard to argue that Green had a better rookie season.

In the case of Wagner and Cunningham it’s even worse, as Cade not only had a better season but is also the better player using the eye test.

I honestly don’t care what order voters had Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes, but the voters who left Cade and Mobley off their ballots either had an agenda or are even more biased than me.