NBA Rookie of The Year 2014: Michael Carter-Williams Is The Best Among The Worst Rookie Class Ever! Will Next Season's Rookies Live Up To The Hype?

The NBA Rookie of the Year Award 2014 was one of the least anticipated. The main reason is that this year's rookie class stands to be one of the worst. Michael Carter-Williams was an unexpected gem.

ESPN gave the spoiler from information provided by Marc Stein. The formal announcement is expected next week.

The stats and info from ESPN: "Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds as one of the few bright spots in the Sixers' dismal 19-63 campaign.

Drafted with the 11th overall pick out of Syracuse, Carter-Williams was the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month four times this season."

While Carter-Williams was heralded for being a tall, legitimate point guard, he was often criticized for his shady shooting. However, he made an record-setting debut which became a pleasant surprise for the hapless 76ers. They actually beat the defending champions Miami Heat.

Here are some of the distinctions of that first game from SI.com:

• No player - rookie or otherwise - has matched that stat line (points, assists, rebounds and steals) in any game since 1985. ESPN Stats & Information notes that it's been achieved only twice in NBA history.
• Carter-Williams' nine steals are the most for a player in his debut.
• No other player has scored 22 points and dished 12 assists in a debut since 1985.
• Carter-Williams' nine steals tied a Sixers franchise record and are the most in any NBA game since Wizards guard John Wall had nine in November 2010.
• Carter-Williams' 22 points were the most by a Sixers player making his debut since Allen Iverson scored 30 points in 1996.
• Only four other players since 1985 have managed to register a double/double in points and assists in their debut (Damian Lillard, Spud Webb, Jason Kidd and Damon Stoudamire).
• Only six other players since 1985 have managed 20 points/5 rebounds/5 assists in their debut (Willie Anderson, Grant Hill, LeBron James, Steve Smith, Tom Gugliotta and Hersey Hawkins."

Observers say this draft class may still produce some good players. First overall pick Anthony Bennett started to show signs of life late in the season. Nerlens Noel did not even play due to the Sixers tanking effort and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still growing, literally. It might be unfair to label them as the worst draft class.

Next season's draft class include potential franchise players Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid and Julius Randle. Will they live up to the hype? We also need to wait and see.