NBA rookie check-in: Victor Wembanyama in league of his own — who follows?
At some point this season, a legitimate debate over NBA Rookie of the Year could be made. San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama had more striking numbers, but Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren's massive role on a title-contending team kept him in the discussion.
But now there is no longer a discussion, though that's not Holmgren's fault. He's still having a sublime first year, but he is doing it while Wembanyama has one of the greatest rookie seasons ever.
Let's rank the rooks:
(All records and statistics are through Tuesday.)
1. Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs
We've reached a point in Wemby's season where he breaks a record every game. He is already one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, and leaving him off an All-Defense team will be pretty tough if he finishes the season putting up the numbers he currently is. Wemby (20.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG) has averaged 4.6 blocks per game since the All-Star break.
It's too bad that the Spurs are 15-54.
2. Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder
Holmgren would run away with Rookie of the Year in most NBA seasons. He averages 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and is shooting 39.2% from three-point range on perhaps the best team in the Western Conference.
Of all rookies on this list, Holmgren will have the biggest impact on the NBA playoffs. If he can slow the big men of the West, OKC's postseason run could be a marathon. He's everything the Thunder dreamed of and more.
3. Brandon Miller | Charlotte Hornets
If you haven't seen much of Miller recently, that's understandable — the Hornets (17-52) are brutal to watch. But Miller (16.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG) is single-handedly giving Hornets fans reason for optimism while LaMelo Ball has missed most of the season with an ankle injury.
Miller's efficiency has dipped recently without a starting-caliber point guard by his side. However, he has scored 20-plus points 20 times this season, including three straight 25-plus-point outings in early February. The histrionics from NBA fans when Charlotte selected Miller second overall in this year's draft now seem unnecessary.
4. Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat
Jaquez Jr. (12.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG) has played a tad inconsistently, but that's to be expected from rookies, especially rookies on solid teams. Still, the 23-year-old plays a mature style and seldom looks rattled on the floor among established veterans such as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. He fits perfectly in the Heat system and will thrive in South Beach for years.
5. Keyonte George | Utah Jazz
Utah (29-39) has cooled after a surprising first half, but George (12.9 PPG, 4.5 APG) is heating up. Over the past few weeks, the 6-foot-4 guard from Baylor has been showing off the "microwave" scoring ability that made him such an intriguing prospect, scoring at least 25 points four times in March.
Plus, George's efficiency has steadily risen throughout the season, too. He's shooting 35.8% from three-point range.
Honorable mentions
6. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors
7. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks
8. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
9. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
10. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder
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