NBA: Five rookies of the season

Wembanyama and Holmgren have been going head to head these past weeks. The rookies kind of spun their wheels the last time. They were in the forefront this time. Wembanyama made half of his eighteen attempts and finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots. In the end, Holmgren scored 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 three-pointers. Their disparities in stats were similar to what they have been all season, providing the 7-foot-4 Frenchman with just enough room to stay at the top.
In their first meeting, Holmgren’s squad prevailed 123-87. The score was 140-114 this time. OKC is 10 wins better now at 31-13 than they were after 44 games the previous season. After 44 games, San Antonio is five games poorer, at 8-36. The best rookies in NBA history have usually improved their teams’ records, sometimes significantly.

THE LATEST RANKINGS
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Season stats: 20.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.2 bpg Last Ladder: 1, Draft pick: No. 1

With four shot blocks against OKC on Wednesday, the Spurs rookie has at least that many in 18 games. That is the player’s fourth-highest total before turning 21. Josh Smith scored twenty-one, Anthony Davis twenty-one, and Shaquille O’Neal thirty. Wemby doesn’t turn 21 for another 345 days in the interim. The youngster was also able to witness big-man excellence firsthand as the opposition centre against Philadelphia on Monday, witnessing Joel Embiid’s 70-point effort. He received a score of 33.

2. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren

Season averages: 2.6 bpg, 7.3 rpg, and 17.1 ppg
Last Ladder: 2
Draft selection: No. 2 (2022)

Along with the victory on Wednesday and a perfect 4-0 week, Holmgren also took home a few awards. Over the weekend, while the Thunder was in Minneapolis playing the Timberwolves, his teammates from Thunder joined him at Minnehaha Academy to celebrate the school retiring his jersey. Subsequently, Holmgren was listed as one of the 41 NBA players in the USA Basketball 2024 pool. Later on, there will be a reduction to 12 for the Olympics in Paris. Holmgren competed for the gold-winning FIBA U-19 team at the 2021 World Cup. Additionally, Mark Few, the Gonzaga University head coach, serves as one of Steve Kerr’s assistants for Team USA.

3. Hornets player Brandon Miller

Season statistics: 4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 15.1 ppg
Last Ladder: 4
Draft selection: second overall

increased his scoring average by more than a point over the last four games, averaging 24.3 points on 57.4% shooting, including 14 of 31 three-pointers. The Alabama rookie may carry a heavier offensive burden now that Terry Rozier has left for Miami.

4. Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Season statistics: 2.7 apg, 3.9 rpg, and 14 ppg
Final Step: 3
Draft pick: No. 18

He has missed the last five games due to a groin strain, and the Heat is now 1-4. According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, his contribution to that rotation is evident: When Jaquez scores ten points or more, Miami is 20-9; when he doesn’t (including DNPs), Miami is 4-11.

5. Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II

Season averages: 7.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg, and 8.8 ppg
Last Ladder: 5
Draft pick: 12th overall