Luka Doncic made headlines a couple months back when he made it seem as though he has zero interest in whether or not he wins the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, but the Dallas Mavericks star has changed his tune now that it has been over two months since the season ended.
With the Rookie of the Year set to be named at the NBA Awards Show on Monday night, Doncic told Shams Charania it simply isn’t his style to state his own case to the media the way Atlanta Hawks rookie Trae Young has. However, he said winning ROY was one of his goals this year.
Mavericks Rookie of the Year favorite @luka7doncic on ROY battle with Trae Young: “I’m confident, but even if I think I am, I’m never going to say it … I’m going to keep it to myself. It’s just different characters.” pic.twitter.com/pOwLlGEde0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2019
“For sure. Every award you can get is better,” Doncic said. “Any award you can win, go for it.”
Young had one of his best games of the year shortly after last year’s Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons emphatically stated that Doncic deserves the award this year. Following his 33-point, 12-assist, 7-rebound effort, Young said Simmons may want to change his vote.
None of that seemed to bother Doncic, who said he wants to win ROY but really doesn’t care. He said it in the context of caring more about the Mavericks improving this offseason, so it’s no surprise he feels a bit differently now that his disappointment in the 2018-19 season has started to subside.
