Unsurprisingly, the fight for the Rookie Of The Year trophy should be between Victor Wembanyama And Chet Holmgren. While for three years, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been competing for the title of MVP, now two young interior players are also shaking up the NBA from their debut.
After a long month of competition, how to decide between them? On an individual level, the pivot of the Spurs and that of the Thunder confirm their full potential.
They are versatile in attack and intimidating in defense, and overall, they have almost the same statistics with a slight advantage over the French in points, rebounds, assists and blocks. We also note that the two rookies are already part of the Top 5 best blockers in the NBA, ahead of Rudy Gobert and Myles Turner.
Chet Holmgren, a model of efficiency
But where Chet Holmgren takes the upper hand is in his shot selection, and his skill is remarkable since he is very close to the closed circle of “50/40/90”. Conversely, “Wemby” waters a lot with only 47% shooting success, weighed down by his 27% at 3-points. If we add that the Spurs remain on 13 defeats in a row and that he loses a lot of balls, while the Thunder has long been on the podium of the Western conference, this is why we choose Chet Holmgren as the best rookie of this start of the season .
Certainly, we can say that the latter is a “false rookie” since he was drafted in 2022 and that he has already spent a year in the incubator within the Thunder, studying the game of his teammates and benefiting from advice of the club. And as he arrives in an already structured and coherent group, where he only had to slip into a role cut out for him, his beginnings are simpler than for Victor Wembanyama, who arrives at Spurs who have to rebuild everything .
However, Chet Holmgren’s start to the season is simply cleaner, despite struggling last night against Rudy Gobert, and he deserves the top spot for now.
Behind this duo, no Scoot Henderson. The leader of the Blazers had announced that he would be the best rookie of the year, but an injury kept him away from the field for a long time. For the moment, it’s difficult to judge him. Same thing for Amen Thompson, the Rockets rookie.
Ausar Thompson and Jordan Hawkins, the good surprises
On the other hand, his brother Ausar Thompson made a stunning start to his career. At 1m98, he is the only rookie in “double double”, and his qualities as an interceptor and blocker are already impressive. But like Victor Wembanyama, his start to his career was marked by a big series of defeats: 14 in a row!
Behind this major trio, it is more dispersed, and the other good surprise comes from New Orleans with the opportunism of Jordan Hawkins. NCAA champion with UConn, this silky-shooting guard seized his chance after injuries to Jose Alvarado and CJ McCollum. With their returns, it will be complicated to maintain the same production, but the managers know that they can count on him as a “joker” capable of clearing the game with his 3-point skill.
Finally, let’s not forget Derek Lively IIwho stabilizes the Mavericks under the circle and seems well ahead of the passing times, or even Brandon Miller who, like Wembanyama and Thompson, tries to put himself forward in complicated conditions. As a bonus, he has to deal with competition from Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges. But his maturity in the game appeals to Steve Clifford, and he has more and more systems going for him.
Vote for the best rookie at the start of the season
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| # | Player | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1 | Victor Wembanyama | SAS | 17 | 30.1 | 43.0 | 27.5 | 82.4 | 2.1 | 7.4 | 9.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 19.2 |
| 2 | Chet Holmgren | OKAY | 16 | 29.9 | 56.4 | 43.8 | 88.1 | 1.7 | 6.3 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 18.1 |
| 3 | Brandon Miller | CHA | 14 | 30.3 | 47.2 | 35.6 | 78.1 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 14.1 |
| 4 | Jordan Hawkins | NOP | 18 | 28.9 | 39.6 | 37.0 | 86.1 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 13.4 |
| 5 | Ausar Thompson | DET | 17 | 30.3 | 46.0 | 12.9 | 69.8 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 9.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 11.4 |
| 6 | Jaime Jaquez, Jr. | MIA | 17 | 25.9 | 50.7 | 40.0 | 82.4 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 11.2 |
| 7 | Keyonte George | UTA | 17 | 25.2 | 35.8 | 32.9 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 9.9 |
| 8 | Scoot Henderson | POR | 8 | 26.0 | 35.4 | 22.6 | 66.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 9.1 |
| 9 | Craig Porter, Jr. | KEY | 11 | 15.5 | 56.3 | 42.9 | 72.7 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 8.3 |
| 10 | Derek Lively II | DAL | 14 | 24.1 | 69.4 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 8.1 |
| 11 | Bilal Coulibaly | W.A.S. | 16 | 26.1 | 50.0 | 42.2 | 63.6 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 8.1 |
| 12 | Marcus Sasser | DET | 17 | 18.1 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 8.0 |
| 13 | Cason Wallace | OKAY | 16 | 22.3 | 60.9 | 53.8 | 100.0 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 6.7 |
| 14 | Brandin Podziemski | G.S.W. | 12 | 16.2 | 43.8 | 40.7 | 76.9 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 6.4 |
| 15 | Amen Thompson | HOU | 4 | 16.7 | 40.9 | 18.2 | 62.5 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 6.3 |
| 16 | Duop Reath | POR | 9 | 13.4 | 38.5 | 32.4 | 83.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 6.2 |
| 17 | Toumani Camara | POR | 17 | 24.6 | 38.5 | 29.5 | 74.1 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 6.1 |
| 18 | Sasha Vezenkov | BAG | 12 | 13.7 | 42.6 | 34.1 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.8 |
| 19 | Julian Strawther | DEN | 15 | 12.2 | 39.7 | 34.0 | 75.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 5.3 |
| 20 | Anthony Black | ENT | 15 | 18.3 | 44.8 | 23.8 | 66.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 4.6 |
| 21 | Jarace Walker | IND | 4 | 10.1 | 38.9 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 4.3 |
| 22 | Gradey Dick | TOR | 15 | 14.7 | 27.0 | 24.4 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.9 |
| 23 | Ben Sheppard | IND | 7 | 7.8 | 40.9 | 33.3 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3.6 |
| 24 | Vasilije Micic | OKAY | 8 | 12.3 | 37.5 | 35.7 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3.4 |
| 25 | Colby Jones | BAG | 8 | 8.6 | 46.2 | 14.3 | 66.7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.4 |
| 26 | Tracey Jackson-Davis | G.S.W. | 13 | 7.9 | 54.5 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| 27 | Jalen Pickett | DEN | 10 | 7.1 | 47.4 | 38.5 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 28 | Nick Smith, Jr. | CHA | 6 | 6.4 | 35.3 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
| 29 | Chris Livingston | MIL | 2 | 4.7 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 30 | Jordan Miller | LAKE | 2 | 3.4 | 66.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 31 | Kobe Brown | LAKE | 7 | 8.1 | 43.8 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| 32 | Cam Whitmore | HOU | 3 | 7.7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| 33 | Colin Gillespie | DEN | 9 | 8.7 | 44.4 | 27.3 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.2 |
| 34 | Markquis Nowell | TOR | 1 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 35 | Jermaine Samuels | HOU | 3 | 6.6 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| 36 | Colin Castleton | LAL | 2 | 9.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 37 | Gui Santos | G.S.W. | 2 | 6.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 38 | Amari Bailey | CHA | 1 | 3.3 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 39 | Olivier-Maxence Prosper | DAL | 7 | 5.8 | 30.8 | 12.5 | 50.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| 40 | Andre Jackson, Jr. | MIL | 13 | 8.8 | 58.8 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 41 | Kris Murray | POR | 10 | 8.8 | 30.0 | 25.0 | 60.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.8 |
| 42 | Jordan Ford | BAG | 4 | 3.1 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 43 | Emoni Bates | KEY | 7 | 7.5 | 26.7 | 25.0 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
| 44 | Leaky Black | CHA | 3 | 4.1 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
| 45 | D’Moi Hodge | LAL | 4 | 6.1 | 25.0 | 14.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| 46 | Jalen Slawson | BAG | 3 | 5.4 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| 47 | EJ Liddell | NOP | 3 | 2.9 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| 48 | Dariq Whitehead | BRK | 1 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 49 | Philip Petrusev | BAG | 3 | 3.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 50 | Taylor Hendricks | UTA | 1 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 51 | Alex Fudge | LAL | 2 | 3.2 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 52 | Rayan Rupert | POR | 7 | 4.4 | 8.3 | 16.7 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| 53 | Leonard Miller | MIN | 3 | 2.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| 54 | Julian Phillips | CHI | 7 | 3.0 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| 55 | Kobe Bufkin | ATL | 2 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 56 | Jett Howard | ENT | 5 | 4.6 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| 57 | Hunter Tyson | DEN | 6 | 2.5 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| 58 | Jalen Wilson | BRK | 2 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 59 | Noah Clowney | BRK | 1 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 60 | Brice Sensabaugh | UTA | 1 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 61 | Onuralp Bitim | CHI | 1 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 62 | Malcolm Cazalon | DET | 1 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 63 | Mouhamed Gueye | ATL | 2 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 64 | GG Jackson | SAME | 3 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 65 | Keyontae Johnson | OKAY | 1 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 66 | Sidy Cissoko | SAS | 1 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 67 | Jalen Hood Schifino | LAL | 1 | 11.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 68 | Kaiser Gates | NOP | 1 | 7.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 69 | Maxwell Lewis | LAL | 7 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
