its the year you first play. Like Europeans getting drafted a few years before they play in the league

If you suffer a season ending injury in the first game of the season, you are still eligible for ROY the following year.

Luis Scola being a perfect example. Drafted in 2002 by the Spurs but didn't score a contract until he was signed by Houston in 07/08. He was a rookie at 30 odd years of age.

Thanks lads, i'm off to sports bet...

Hmmm... Unless Oden is at really long odds I think I'd put my money elsewhere (Rose, Beasley, Mayo).

Oden is stepping into a good lineup already and IMO will not have the same chance to be a standout like some of the others above.

Sabonis is a better example, drafted in 1984 and 1985, (not many would have been drafted twice!), but only made it to the States in 1995. He was then runner up for Rookie of the Year that season.

He is coming into an awesome spot- He has no concerns for scoring, he could dominate in defence and still get 12-15ppg. If the Blazers make the play-offs, he has to get some credit for that. Beasley and Rose have good chances, Rose perhaps will suffer from the fact his team will be weaker and his numbers won't jump out at you....but he is playing in the L-east conference... B-easy will put up good numbers but really- wade will score the points and Matrix/Haslem will be getting the boards so his numbers from college will not be translating to the show.

Ultimately the team success will determine the winner and if the Blazers make the playoffs in the LOADED west conf, and he is starting and scoring 12-15pts, grabbing 11+ boards and blocking 2.5+ shots....he wins. Pretty good chance of that happening too.

Compare Horford and Durant. Horford (like Oden probably will) averaged a double double on a playoff team. Durant stats were much better and his team sucked yet Durant still won ROY.

Same will happen with Beasley or Rose for example. Even IF (big 'if') the Blazers do make the playoffs and Oden has the numbers you are talking about I think that a dominant Rose or Beasley season should be enough to win it - plus IMO both Miami and Chicago are playoff chances and are likely to improve more than Portland (in terms of number of games won compared to last season)

News just in- Beasley tore in his first game- scored 28 or something and led heat over bulls 94-70.
Now that was against Thomas and Noah for the bulls so draw your own conclusions...

Do i need to put a spoiler for a summer league game???!!!

I don't think Rose will put up the numbers needed to win ROY, also, traditionaly PG's take longer to develop.

Beast or Oden, with Mayo the only other option, but an outside one at best.

Run TMC- Beast may well put up Durant type numbers, but Oden will do a hell of a lot more than Horford.
He'll score a lot more and board a little better, while blocking a ton o shots.

I've got my doubts whether Oden will do much more than Horford - we'll have to wait and see I guess.

David Robinson is also an example. Was the No1 pick in 1987 and was ROY in 1990 after doing his Navy service.

wow thanks 10 people for saying what i did

If Greg Oden had played one minute of NBA basketball during the 2007-08 regular season, he would be INELIGIBLE for the 2008-09 regular season Rookie of the Year award. It's not like the NAB Rising Star in the AFL, where you have to be under a certain amount of games at the start of the season. It's based on the first season you play minutes. Therefore, Greg Oden is eligible for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.