Joel Embiid, Dario Saric among Rookie of the Year finalists

By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor

Sixers rookies Joel Embiid and Dario Saric are two of the three finalists for the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award:

Just in: your Rookie of the Year finalists — @JoelEmbiid@dariosaric
Malcolm Brogdon

Find out the winner, June 26: #NBAAwards on TNT pic.twitter.com/XbXKYC4HaU

— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) May 19, 2017

In terms of who was the most dominant rookie, there isn't a competition. Embiid averaged 20.2 points-per-game, with 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while displaying the ability to be an elite defender. The problem for the 23-year-old is that he was limited to just 31 games because he tore his left meniscus. Embiid was unquestionably the best rookie to play in 2016-17, but the fact that he was limited to 31 games and on a minutes restriction (even though that part should actually work in his favor) will cost him some votes. 

Luckily for the Sixers, if Embiid doesn't win, Saric may. Saric, 23, averaged 12.8 points-per-game, while grabbing 6.3 points-per-game. One argument that some voters will use in his favor is that he played all 82 games this season. 

Brogdon averaged 10.2 points-per-game, while dishing out 4.2 assists and posting 4.1 win-shares for the Milwaukee Bucks. Unlike Saric or Embiid, Brogdon played in the playoffs. He also played alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, though so his role was entirely different than what Embiid played all 31 games and what Saric played late in the season. 

There will be some voters that penalize both Embiid and Saric because they weren't "traditional rookies," as well. Both were selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft, with Embiid missing two consecutive years due to injuries and Saric playing professionally in Turkey. Though both did get some taste of what it is like to be a professional athlete in the two years between being drafted and making their NBA debuts, both were rookies in 2016-17, so it would seem they are as qualified to win the award as any other first year players. 

The winner of the award will be announced on June 26.