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The NBA Rookie of the Year Race is hot and heavy. The three top candidates, in the opinion of InsideHoops.com and pretty much anyone who followed the NBA this season, are Charlotte's Emeka Okafor, Chicago's Ben Gordon and Orlando's Dwight Howard. The Magic are pushing for their man to win it. Here's their take on why he deserves the award:

The #1 overall draft pick has played and started in every game this season for the Magic (75 games), averaging 11.4 ppg., 10.1 rpg. and 1.71 blkpg….Howard would become the first player in NBA history to start in every regular season outing during his rookie campaign coming directly out of high school.

· Leads the Magic in rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage…Led (or tied) the team in scoring three times and in rebounding a team-best 50 times.

· Ranks among all NBA players in rebounding (8th), blocked shots (14th) and field goal percentage (10th).

· Ranks in top 10 among all NBA rookies in seven categories: scoring (4th), rebounding (2nd), FG percentage (4th), assists (T-19th), steals (6th), blocked shots (3rd) and minutes played (3rd).

· Recorded a team-high 29 double-doubles, the fourth-most by an Eastern Conference rookie since 1997-98…Currently one of only nine players in the NBA to average a double-double…Would be one of only 11 players (along with Okafor) since 1984-85 to average a double-double in his rookie season (Brand, Coleman, L. Johnson, Mutombo, Mourning, Duncan, O’Neal, D. Robinson and Olajuwon) and would become the youngest player in NBA history to average a double-double.

· Became the youngest player in NBA history to record 20-plus rebounds in a game (15 points, 20 rebounds on Dec. 1 vs. Toronto)…The 20 boards were the most by an NBA rookie since Amare Stoudemire had 21 rebounds on Nov. 10, 2003 vs. Memphis…He also ripped down 20 boards on Feb. 10 vs. Atlanta and again on Mar. 9 @ Toronto, becoming the first rookie since Tim Duncan in 1997-98 to record multiple 20-plus rebound games.

Below are the youngest players ever to record two 20-plus rebound games in the same season:

- Dwight Howard, 2004-05, Orlando - 19 years, 65 days
- Joe Smith, 1995-96, Golden State - 20 years, 196 days
- Shaquille O’Neal, 1992-93, Orlando - 20 years, 286 days
- Tim Duncan, 1997-98, San Antonio - 21 years, 331 days
- Shaquille O’Neal, 1993-94, Orlando - 21 years, 346 days

· Recorded 10-or-more rebounds during his first nine NBA contests, marking the first time since 1992-93 that an NBA rookie opened his career with 10-plus boards during that span…The last rookie to accomplish the feat was Shaquille O’Neal, also with the Magic, 12 seasons ago…He pulled down 10-plus boards in his first 12 NBA outings.

PLAYER, SEASON, TEAM --- # OF CONSECUTIVE 10+ REBOUND GAMES TO START CAREER:

Shaquille O’Neal, 1992-93, Orlando - 12
Dwight Howard, 2004-05, Orlando - 9 (Nov. 3-20, 2004)
Dikembe Mutombo, 1991-92, Denver - 5
Emeka Okafor, 2004-05, Charlotte - 4

· Selected to play in the 2005 got Milk? Rookie Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend…Finished with 14 points (7-10 FG, 0-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist, a game-high three blocks and one steal in 19 minutes.