{"id":59539,"date":"2023-12-08T10:49:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T15:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=59539"},"modified":"2023-12-08T10:49:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T15:49:15","slug":"nba-roty-ladder-1-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/12\/08\/nba-roty-ladder-1-0\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA ROTY Ladder 1.0: A Pair of Unicorns Headline a Tight Race"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NBA Rookie of the Year<\/a> award is among the most prestigious in the league’s trophy case. LeBron James<\/a><\/strong>, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/a><\/strong>, Larry Bird<\/a><\/strong>, Tim Duncan<\/a><\/strong>, and Michael Jordan<\/a><\/strong> are just a handful of the legends whose stacked NBA trophy cases began with this honour. This year\u2019s rookie class has many players hoping to etch their name into the history books, but at the moment, two <\/span>unicorns<\/span><\/a> stand above the rest: Chet Holmgren<\/a><\/strong> and Victor Wembanyama<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite a combined height of 14 feet and five inches, both players have the agility, ball handling, and shooting of a typical guard, seemingly defying reality every time they step on the court. Nearing the quarter-mark of the season, it appears these two are poised to deliver one of the most hotly-contested ROTY races in history. Perhaps not since James vs Carmelo Anthony<\/a><\/strong> in 2003-04 have we had a race as fascinating as this one is shaping up to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of candidates on the fringe, too. There are currently 11 rookies playing 25+ minutes per game this season. It\u2019s rare for that many players to earn a prominent role in their team\u2019s rotation this early in their careers, which is a testament to both the talent and depth of the 2023 draft class. Can any of these guys make a run for the trophy? Or are we destined for a showdown between two unicorns for the rest of the way? Below is my analysis of the 12 rookies in contention for the award.<\/span><\/p>\n

NBA ROTY Ladder 1.0: A Pair of Unicorns Headline a Tight Race<\/h2>\n

1. Chet Holmgren<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stats: 16.9 PPG (2nd) 7.9 RPG (3rd) 2.6 APG (5th) 1.0 SPG (6th) 2.4 BPG (2nd) .636 TS% (3rd) +5.4 EPM (1st) – [<\/span>Stat rankings among the 22 rookies that have played at least 100 minutes this season]<\/span><\/p>\n

Selecting the top spot for this ranking was far from easy. Wembanyama currently leads in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks, giving him an extremely compelling case. As great as he\u2019s been, I still believe Holmgren, who is not far behind in those categories, warrants this spot due to his unreal efficiency and overall impact. He\u2019s shooting 51.9% from the field, 37.6% from three, and 86.5% from the foul line. His impact metrics are off the charts for a rookie, rating him as one of the top two-way players in the NBA. Adding to his case, he\u2019s been a major contributor for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that is currently second place in the Western Conference at 13-7, while the San Antonio Spurs are on a 14-game losing streak and sit dead last in the West with a record of 3-16.<\/span><\/p>\n

For my money, Holmgren belongs in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year this season. He is the cream of the crop in a rookie class oozing with defensive specialists. He’s posting ridiculous rim protection numbers and anchoring one of the league\u2019s best defenses. His 2.4 BPG ranks fifth in the NBA, and he\u2019s holding opponents to just 54.9% shooting at the rim, placing him just behind former DPOY finalists Joel Embiid<\/a><\/strong> (52.5%) and Brook Lopez<\/a><\/strong> (52.4%).<\/span><\/p>\n

Holmgren also has the second-best D-EPM, one of the top advanced metrics for evaluating defensive impact. While Wembanyama has moments of dominance on that end, he still needs to improve some deficiencies before reaching the best defender status in the league, which Holmgren is challenging for. That slight defensive edge, combined with his efficiency and team success, makes him my pick for the NBA ROTY frontrunner thus far.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Victor Wembanyama<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stats: 18.9 PPG (1st) 9.7 RPG (1st) 2.5 APG (7th) 1.3 SPG (1st) 2.6 BPG (1st) .522 TS% (16th) +0.5 EPM (4th)<\/span><\/p>\n

Wembanyama would be an easy choice for the top spot in almost any other year. The Spurs have struggled this season, but that hardly falls on Wembanyama\u2019s shoulders. San Antonio allows about eight fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the court, thanks to his enormous rim protection (his BPG is third in the NBA) and opponent FG% at the rim (52.7%). He\u2019s also leading the Spurs in every major stat aside from assists.<\/span><\/p>\n

He still needs to improve his shot selection and efficiency, as he\u2019s settling for too many tough jumpers. Regardless, it\u2019s hard to deny how impactful he is when those shots fall. He\u2019s only been getting better, too, averaging 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks over his last four games. Holmgren will have a tough time holding onto that top spot if Wembanyama keeps this up.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Ausar Thompson<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stats: 10.4 PPG (6th) 8.9 RPG (2nd) 2.5 APG (6th) 1.0 SPG (4th) 1.4 BPG (4th) .500 TS% (18th) -1.6 EPM (7th)<\/span><\/p>\n

Ausar Thompson’s<\/a><\/strong> relentless hustle and high basketball IQ make him an incredibly impactful player. At just six-foot-seven, Thompson is one of the best offensive rebounders and shot blockers in the NBA this season. He\u2019s a menace on defense, hounding star players like Kawhi Leonard<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and having some head-turning feats of athleticism.<\/span><\/p>\n

The offensive side of the ball is still a work in progress, as Thompson doesn\u2019t have the best handle and is a putrid shooter. However, he still finds ways to make an impact with his energy and athleticism serving him well in transition, cuts, and on the boards. He\u2019s also a terrific passer who makes quick decisions to punish late rotations. Barring injuries, it\u2019s hard to see anyone topping the unicorns on this list, but if anybody has a shot, it\u2019s Thompson.<\/span><\/p>\n