Rip City Project
Fansided

Blazers Gary Trent Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic get a few nods in NBA’s annual Rookie Survey

By Matt George Moore

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Gary Trent Jr. of the Portland Trailblazers poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: Gary Trent Jr. of the Portland Trailblazers poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Two Portland Trail Blazers players got votes in the NBA’s annual Rookie Survey, which seeks to gauge how this year’s crop of newbies thinks about itself and the league in general.

According to votes gathered from 36 players who will be first-year players in the upcoming 2018-2019 season, Gary Trent Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are two Portland Trail Blazers to keep an eye on.

Trent performed especially well in the survey, receiving votes for biggest steal of the draft, best rookie shooter and best rookie defender. Nurkic received votes for favorite player.

More from Rip City Project

Here’s how the Rookie Survey voting process was described by John Schuhmann, writing for NBA.com.

"For the 10th time in the last 12 years, NBA.com sat down with the rookie class at the annual Rookie Photo Shoot at the New York Knicks’ practice facility. This year’s group (of 36) answered seven questions about their class, as well as a few about the current player they most admire and what they’re expecting as they make the jump to the NBA."

Blazers Get Votes: Biggest Steal

The votes with Portland players listed went down as follows.

Question: Which rookie was the biggest steal at where he was selected in the Draft?

1. Keita Bates-Diop (48th pick), Minnesota — 13 percent.

2. (tie) Michael Porter14th pick), Denver, and Lonnie Walker IV (18th pick), San Antonio — both with 10 percent.

3. (tie) Jalen Brunson (33rd pick), Dallas, and Gary Trent Jr. (37th pick), Portland — both with 6 percent.

Blazers Get Votes: Best Shooter

Question: Which rookie is the best shooter?

1. Trae Young Atlanta (47 percent).

2. (tie) Kevin Huerter, Atlanta, and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, L.A. Lakers (both with 13 percent).

3. Gary Trent Jr., Portland (9 percent).

Blazers Get Votes: Best Defender

Question: Which rookie is the best defender?

The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jevon Carter was the top vote-getter with 29 percent. Trent Jr. made the “others receiving votes” list.

Next. Blazers get no love from NBA experts this offseason. dark

Blazers Get Votes: Favorite Player

The Lakers’ LeBron James won this one in a landslide, picking up 29 percent of the vote. Steph Curry and Kevin Durant tied for second with 9 percent. Nurkic made the “others receiving votes” category.

You can find the full Rookie Survey here.