Deandre Ayton named finalist for NBA Rookie of the Year award

Dallas’ Luka Doncic and Atlanta’s Trae Young are the other finalists

Former Arizona Wildcats standout Deandre Ayton was named one of three finalists for the NBA Rookie of the Year award on Friday.

The other finalists are Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and Dallas Mavericks wing Luka Doncic.

Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game on 59 percent shooting with the Phoenix Suns, who finished with the worst record in the Western Conference at 19-63.

Doncic, who many thought should have been the No. 1 pick instead of Ayton, averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, with a .427/.327/.713 shooting line.

Young averaged 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3 and 83 percent from the free-throw line.

Doncic is the considered the frontrunner, but if Ayton wins the award he would be the first Wildcat to do so since Damon Stoudamire in 1996.

The winner will be announced June 24.

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