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Former Kentucky star Cason Wallace cracks the NBA KIA Rookie Ladder Top 10
USA TODAY Sports

There's very little mystery regarding the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year race, even just a few weeks into the season.

2023 NBA draft No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is living up to the hype with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, while former Gonzaga star Chet Holmgren looks like a future All-Star as well with 17 points and eight boards while shooting over 53% from the three-point line.

Still, despite a two-man race (that's probably realistically a one man race), the NBA will continue to produce a top 10 list of the best rookies in the league on a weekly basis, and this week included a teammate of Holmgren's in Cason Wallace, the former Kentucky guard who was taken tenth overall in the 2023 NBA draft.

Wallace is currently averaging eight points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists for the Thunder in a reserve role and is shooting 68.8% overall and 6-11 (54.5%) from beyond the arc.

Wallace was a one-and-done freshman at Kentucky last season, averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and two steals while shooting 51.4% on twos and 34.6% from three. He was drafted on draft night to the Thunder, who have among the best young cores in the entire NBA.

Look for him to continue to thrive in a smaller role for OKC this season, and while he won't take home Rookie of the Year hardware, there's little doubt he'll be making Thunder fans happy they have him for years to come.

This article first appeared on FanNation Wildcats Today and was syndicated with permission.

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