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On Tuesday, the NBA announced that the media voting to determine to 2019-20 season awards will take place July 21-28 and will be based only on games played from the start of the regular season through March 11.
The eight “seeding games” set to tip-off July 30 through Aug. 14 will not count toward the season awards in order to create a fair voting process for players on all 30 teams in the league.
With a panel of global sportswriters and broadcasters voting this week, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant showed some love to fellow teammate Brandon Clarke for the NBA All-Rookie First Team, tweeting Thursday night that Clarke should be a selection.
@brandonclarke23 rookie 1st team forsure ‼️💯💪🏽
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 23, 2020
Clarke averaged 12 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 50 games played prior to the season shut down. He emerged as perhaps one of the most efficient players in the NBA this season after converting on 62.3% of his field-goal attempts, which ranks fifth among all qualified players.
Back in April, ESPN reporter Zach Lowe, who is an awards voter, and FiveThirtyEight writer Chris Herring each made their picks for the NBA All-Rookie Teams. The two both included Clarke on the First Team after his strong play this season.
While Morant, who is a lock for the First Team and the Rookie of the Year award, may be a bit biased when it comes to putting Clarke on the First Team, two other writers believe the claim has merit and it could result in both Grizzlies players earning the honor.
The awards will be announced on TNT during its coverage of the NBA Playoffs.
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