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The New York Knicks have been one of the bigger surprises in the NBA this season. That is in large part due to the strong play by All-Star Julius Randle and stellar coaching from Tom Thibodeau. But one guy who is quietly having an impressive year is rookie Immanuel Quickley. IQ has only had three starts so far this season, but has opened some eyes with the way he is coming off the bench. There is a case to be made for why he should win this season’s Rookie of the Year award. 

Quickley is currently averaging 12.8 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game, and 2.3 assists per game. The best part about that is that this is only with 20 minutes played per game. The favorite to win Rookie of the Year this season was Lamelo Ball, but with him getting injured, the only person that is really competing with Quickley for the award is the number one pick of last year’s draft in Anthony Edwards. Edwards has been playing amazingly so far after the All-Star break, averaging 17.2 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game. However, that is with 30.6 minutes played per game. It is fair to say that if the Kentucky product had as many minutes as Edwards, he could easily have a similar—if not better—stat line than him.

Another thing is that IQ has been a big contributor in the Knicks currently being in a playoff spot, compared to the Timberwolves being last in the West. So even though Edwards has a better stat line, you have to consider the fact that the Knicks are doing much better than the Timberwolves. Plus, Quickley was the twenty-fifth pick in the draft, and it would be really cool to see someone deserving the award not being a top pick in the draft.