Simmons, Mitchell, Tatum finalists for NBA Rookie of the Year

Ben Simmons (76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), and Jayson Tatum (Celtics) were announced as the three finalists for this year's NBA Rookie of the Year award on Wednesday.

The winner will be revealed June 25 at the NBA Awards show in Los Angeles.

Simmons was drafted first overall two years ago and is eligible for this year's hardware as a result of his redshirt 2016-17 campaign. He led all rookies this season in rebounds (8.1) and assists (8.2), and ranked third in points (15.8), guiding the Sixers to a 52-win season and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs.

The 21-year-old Aussie is one of only two rookies since 1946-47 to average at least 15 points, eight boards, and eight dimes per game, joining Oscar Robertson.

Mitchell was tasked with shouldering more of the offense on a Jazz roster which lost leading scorer Gordon Hayward to the Celtics last offseason. The No. 13 pick exceeded expectations by putting up a rookie-high 20.5 points, with the Jazz's 48 victories being the most by a team led in scoring by a first-year player since 1989-90.

Tatum didn't have Simmons' or Mitchell's numbers, but he was incredibly efficient and one of the more consistent rookies of the 2017 class. Boston was ravaged with injuries throughout the year, thrusting more responsibilities and pressure onto the third overall selection, which he gladly accepted and thrived under.

He shot 47.5 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from 3-point range for 13.9 points in 30.5 minutes. Tatum is also the last rookie standing of the three finalists, as Boston is two games away from its first Finals berth since 2010.