MCW to claim rookie of year award

REALLY, THE ONLY question left concerning the announcement of the NBA's rookie of the year winner - expected to be given this week - is whether 76ers rookie Michael Carter-Williams will win the award unanimously.

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Carter-Williams has indeed won the award, voted on by media members throughout the country. It really isn't breaking news as the Syracuse product led all rookies in scoring (16.7), assists (6.3) and rebounding (6.2). He posted a pair of triple-doubles on the season and 15 double-doubles.

While the numbers were impressive, albeit for a team that won just 19 games and lost an NBA-tying record 26 consecutive games, there was more to MCW than just the impressive averages.

Just about the time the Sixers snapped their long losing streak, coach Brett Brown said that he needed his rookie "to become more of a point guard, more of a leader."

That was evident for the rest of the 10 games of the season as Carter-Williams cut down on his turnovers (2.2 over the final 10 games), shot 51.2 percent from the floor (compared to 40.5 percent for the season) and became the vocal leader of the team.

"I got a lot of confidence playing this year," Carter-Williams said at the end of the season. "I learned I can play with some of the top guys and learned what I need to do better in the offseason and how much work I need to put in. I had some goals in mind and I think I did a pretty good job of exceeding them. I wanted to be a leader on the court and I think that I ended the year like that. I wanted to be a contender for the rookie of the year and I think I ended the year like that."

He also started the season like that, winning rookie of the month honors for his first one in the league. He set very high standards by going for 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds in the season-opening win over the visiting Miami Heat.

This week, his efforts will be rewarded as he will reach his goal of being rookie of the year.