The 2024 Rookie of the Year race comes down between Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama. But according to basketball Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson, Holmgren actually shouldn't be in the race at all. Speaking on Sirius XM NBA Radio, he explained why Chet isn't a "real rookie" and made the case for his candidacy to be challenged by Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
"Chet isn't really a rookie I agree with that because he was around the game, in practice, watching film, but also working out," said Sampson on Sirius XM. "It's different working out as a pro from when you're working out overseas and playing games all the time. So it's a big difference. The body is a little bit more mature and he knows the system a little bit better and he has a better cast of characters. So he's not a real rookie and he's got an advantage for sure. I would fight against it if I was Wembanyama and Popovich and say he's not a real rookie."
Chet is in the middle of his debut season, but he was actually drafted back in 2022. Picked second overall by the Thunder, Chet sat out for what would have been his rookie season to let his foot fully recover from injury. He didn't play any games that season, but Holmgren was around the Thunder organization and got a whole year to prepare for his debut.
Coming from France, Victor was able to hone his game on the Metropolitans 92 but it was nothing like the NBA. Once he was drafted, he was thrust into a remarkably competitive Western Conference while his team was stuck at dead last in the standings.
Clearly, Chet began with a certain advantage over Wembanyama this season but this isn't the first time that a "non-rookie" has been in contention for Rookie of The Year. As recently 2018, Ben Simmons won the award after missing the entirety of the 2016-2017 season.
Who Will Win Rookie Of The Year?
Based on precedent and tradition, the NBA is unlikely to change the rules now on award eligibility. In the past, Rookie of the Year has always been for a player's first active season and it means that Chet Holmgren has a real chance to win.
This year, for the Thunder, Holmgren has been way more than just a stretch five. With averages of 17.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, he's been one of their best and most consistent players all season long. For a Thunder team that currently ranks second in the West, Chet is playing like a longtime veteran on the court and it's been impressive to watch.
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama's case grows stronger by the day. While the Spurs have been a mess this season, Vicor has been brilliant with a stat line of 20.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 46.6% shooting.
With an average of 3.3 blocks per game, Wembanyama is leading the league in that category and is already on the short list of Defensive Player of the Year candidates.
This season, you really can't go wrong with picking either player for Rookie of the Year but some are still conflicted about who exactly should qualify as a rookie in the first place. For Sampson, Holmgren's year of recovery on the sidelines was more than enough to give him the advantage over a rookie lottery pick with no experience at all in the postseason.
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