Why media is wrong saying Banchero is clear ROTY over Pacers’ Mathurin

Have you heard the media saying that Banchero is the clear rookie of the year? Don’t buy it. Mathurin should be up there with Banchero this year. This always happens with the Pacers because they are a small market team and thus, large media companies struggle to sell content that is centered around the Pacers.

Banchero is an easier sell sure, and may even be the better long-term player. But don’t buy the story that he is CLEARLY the better rookie in his class when both of them have had amazing years and Mathurin actually beats Banchero in a few categories.

Just take a look at the statistics:

Paolo Banchero‘s stats: 19.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 42% FG, 28% FG3 in 34 mpg

Bennedict Mathurin stats: 17.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 43% FG, 32% FG3 in 28 mpg

Banchero has a few more points, a few more rebounds, and a few more assists, you should also notice that Mathurin is much more efficient with his shooting. And so it becomes challenging to decipher how to seperate these two players in the rookie of the year conversation.

We give you three reasons why the media is wrong and why Bennedict should easily be in the conversation for rookie of the year.