NBA Rookies of the Year

To be selected as the Rookie of the Year is an honour in every sport. In the NBA, the annual draft is now only 2 rounds so only about 60 players get selected. Other players are invited to training camp as free agents but only a select few will manage to obtain a spot on the roster of an NBA team. Even less will get significant playing time. Finally, very few will manage to be key contributors in their 1st season to their pro team. This quiz focuses on NBA Rookies of the Year since 1999. I will provide to you the player and the year. Your job is to identify which team drafted that player. Are you ready for the opening tipoff? Let's go!

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Dave Morrissey

Dave is an accomplished economics instructor with over two decades of experience in the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. His students have consistently ranked in the top 10% annually, and one year they achieved the highest overall class average in the world. This outstanding achievement led a UK publisher to request that he write a textbook, an offer he declined in favor of creating sports quizzes, which he found more engaging.

In addition to his teaching career, Dave is also a former high school football coach, having won a couple of local championships. While he wishes he had won more, he continues to be deeply involved in football as a scout, recruiter, and social media creator for a university football team.

Dave's passions extend beyond the classroom and football field. He is an avid fan of live music and international travel, often combining these interests. He has traveled to Spain, England, Iceland, and Chile to see bands perform. His greatest pride and joy is his daughter, who has recently excelled in powerlifting. In just a few years, she has become the Canadian record holder for the bench press in her weight class and finished second overall in the combined national event (bench, deadlift, and squat) in Moose Jaw in March 2024. She will be representing Canada at the World Bench Competition in Austin, Texas, in May 2024.

A die-hard fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, Dave has experienced his share of sports heartache, having seen them play in seven NFL cities with six losses. His all-time favorite athlete is Don Mattingly, reflecting his deep love for sports that spans many arenas.

NBA Rookies of the Year

Emeka Okafor, 2005:

Luka Doncic, 2019:

Karl-Anthony Towns, 2016:

LaMelo Ball, 2021:

Kevin Durant, 2008:

Derrick Rose, 2009:

Michael Carter-Williams, 2014:

Tyreke Evans, 2010:

Vince Carter, 1999:

Brandon Roy, 2007:

Andrew Wiggins, 2015:

Pau Gasol, 2002

Scottie Barnes, 2022:

Amar'e Stoudemire, 2003

Malcolm Brogdon, 2017:

Chris Paul, 2006:

Mike Miller, 2001:

Kyrie Irving, 2012:

Ben Simmons, 2018:

Ja Morant, 2020:

Elton Brand, 2000:

Blake Griffin, 2011:

Damian Lillard, 2013:

Lebron James, 2004:

Paolo Banchero, 2023:

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