While few would doubt that Memphis Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol is the favourite to take out the 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year award, there is at least one NBA coach who has set his eyes elsewhere as a notable recipient for the award.

"(Gasol's) a guy getting attention for rookie of the year," said Denver Nuggets coach Mike Evans. "I like him a lot. But I think Jason Richardson should get it, in my mind. I really like what (Gasol has) accomplished as a big man coming into the league from out of the country. He's definitely done a good job. But I am just a fan of Jason Richardson's right now."
Richardson has been good, winning both the NBA?s Rookie Challenge MVP award and the Slam Dunk title at All-Star weekend and currently leads all rookies in scoring at 17.8 per contest over the past 30 games.  

"In the second half of the season I played with more confidence coming from All-Star Weekend," Richardson said. "It was a good confidence booster to go out there and play like that with all that talent. I was just riding off the energy of that whole weekend."

But Gasol, averaging 17.4 over the same period, has taken everyone by surprise with his strong play this season, his 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocked shots, 33 double doubles and .515 field goal percentage all ranking first among rookies this season.  His solid play this season led him to win the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award three times already this season.

"I hope that I get rookie of the year," said Gasol. "It will be one of the greatest things that could ever happen to a player."