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Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III Projected 6th in ESPN’s Rookie of the Year Voting

By Jonathan Roberts

SALT LAKE CITY - JULY 2: Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings reacts during the 2018 Summer League at the Golden 1 Center on July 2, 2018 in Sacramento, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY - JULY 2: Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings reacts during the 2018 Summer League at the Golden 1 Center on July 2, 2018 in Sacramento, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In a graphic posted on Twitter, ESPN pegged Sacramento Kings rookie Marvin Bagley III to finish sixth the in Rookie of the Year (RoY) voting, behind the likes of Luke Doncic, DeAndre Ayton, and Jaren Jackson Jr.

It is no surprise Luke Doncic is such a heavy favorite at this point in the offseason, as he is coming off a year in which he became the youngest player to ever win the EuroLeague MVP award at just 19-years old. He is arguably the most accomplished rookie coming into the season and figures to have every opportunity to explode with the Dallas Mavericks.

DeAndre Ayton and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both incredibly talented players who could just as easily swoop the NBA’s RoY award away from Doncic should he slip for whatever reason.

What About MB3?

Marvin Bagley III, however, does not figure to get major RoY consideration. At least until he actually gets on the court and puts up RoY level numbers. Bagley being pegged at sixth (with a tie for fourth based off of first-place votes), is a small preseason win for Kings fans though. Last season’s top-rookie De’Aaron Fox was not projected to finish in the top five by ESPN either.

Fortunately for the #Bagley4ROY bandwagon, he will not have to face a player like Ben Simmons, who essentially had the award won from the season-opening tip. Doncic could very well become that type of heavy favorite, something that would break the hearts of more than a few Kings fans. But Bagley will get his chance to show voters he is deserving of the award.

At the very least, Bagley will get every opportunity to put up the numbers worthy of a top-five place finish. A featured role on what figures to be another sub-41 win team is a recipe for big, albeit likely hallow, numbers.

Final Thoughts

An opening-season projection of sixth place is a fair ranking, though. Bagley should have no issue finishing ahead of Wendell Carter Jr. and Collin Sexton if he averages close to a double-double. Trae Young, though, is somebody who could very well beat out MB3 this year if he averages near 20 points per game, or shoots the lights out from three-point range.

Regardless, Kings fans will be as fervent as ever for all their young players. One thing is for sure though. If Bagley lights it up, he will be the Sacramento Kings’ best candidate for RoY since Tyreke Evans won the award back in 2010.

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