| 'Melodrama
By Patryk Fournier May 10th, 2004 |
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When a person wins a big lottery drawing they're given two choices for payment; one large lump sum payment or the option of receiving regular monthly payments, which over time works out to be more money in the long run. People are typically split on which option to take but regardless, both options are very appealing. Just the fact that you're deciding on which method to receive your millions makes it a win-win situation. Choosing between Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James for Rookie of the Year is a similar situation. You really couldn't go wrong with either choice. LeBron was named the eventual Rookie of the Year and while you can make a case to say he is deserving of it there is a much stronger and compelling argument of why Carmelo Anthony should have been named top rookie.
LeBron and Carmelo entered the NBA this season as two of the most hyped and anticipated 1st year players in NBA history. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's entrance into the league in 1979 were greatly anticipated but their hype cannot be compared with today. Not with the current state of media where cable TV and the Internet help sports reach unprecedented levels of globalization and exposure. LeBron was pegged as the "Next One" for two years leading up to his graduation from high school and ascension into the ranks of superstardom when he was selected as the 1st overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lebron's anticipated path to the league was stretched out more than NBC's countdown to the finale of Friends. Carmelo was a sought after high school star from Baltimore who was recruited to Syracuse and in his only year and perhaps the greatest freshman season in NCAA history he averaged a double-double enroute to leading the Orangemen to a National title. He left after one year and joined the Denver Nuggets at 19 years old. LeBron and Carmelo's stats are a virtual wash. It's like deciphering between Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. LeBron averaged 20.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 5.9 APG. Carmelo averaged 21.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 2.8 APG. Assists are the only stat where LeBron stood out and that's to be expected from the guard position that James plays. You have to think of the Rookie of the Year trophy as kind of a Junior MVP trophy awarded to only the field of freshman. So when deciding on the top rookie you have to examine the intangibles: Who was clutch down the stretch? Who led his team to greater collective success? Who faced tougher opposition?
I feel obliged to speak out for Carmelo and appealing LeBron's Rookie of the Year win is like when someone cuts you of in traffic right in front of a cop; you appeal to the cop like he's a referee: "Are you going to just let him get way with that?" The media members who voted for LeBron are like the car that cut you off; they got away with something. A look at all the intangibles clearly shows Carmelo holds a decisive advantage. Regardless of the decision, Carmelo, LeBron, the Nuggets, Cavs and the league are all still winners. The big loser out of all of this is the Pistons and Darko Milicic, I'm not saying that there's any added pressure on the Big Man but he better turn out to be the next coming of Kareem, Shaq and Yao Ming mixed into one to justify his selection over Carmelo Anthony. Darko's first year was a complete flop: 1.4 PPG in just under 5 minutes of playing time per game. Darko's rookie campaign is like an honest movie preview. You ever notice the movie previews always start off with a phrase like: "Universal Pictures proudly presents…. Or TriStar pictures is pleased to present…." Wouldn't it be nice to hear an honest movie preview like: Universal Pictures disgracefully presents Gigli. Well I would just like to see the Pistons acknowledge Darko's rookie year for what it was worth: The Detroit Pistons embarrassingly present Darko Milicic's rookie season.
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