NBA Rookie power rankings: Jaime Jaquez Jr. rising fast
By Wes Goldberg
Don't look now (OK, look now) but the race for Rookie of the Year is getting interesting. What once appeared as an award destined for the enormous hands of Victor Wembanyama is now up for grabs, with a new rookie taking the No. 1 spot.
Here's an update to the NBA rookie power rankings.
1. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Stats: 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.2 blocks
The 11-6 Thunder are among the most surpring teams in the NBA this season, having climbed all the way to fourth place in the West. They are currently ahead of star-studded teams like the Suns, Lakers, Clippers and Warriors in the standings, and a big reason for their leap is Chet Holmgren. While he doesn't have the same per-game stats as Wembanyama, he is scoring more efficiently (53.8% shooting overall, 43.1% from 3-point range) and making an impact on a winning team. Meanwhile, the Spurs have lost 12 in a row and have the league's third-worst record. That's not all on Wembanyama, who has still been sensational, but there's something to be said for Holmgren -- the only real addition from last year's Thunder team -- helping make the Thunder look like contenders.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Stats: 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.6 blocks
Though Wembanyama's impact on offense is still limited to highlights (43% shooting overall, 27.5% on 3s), his defense has been elite out of the box. Wembanyama is tied with perennial DPOY candidate Anthony Davis for the most STOCKS (blocks plus steals) in the league with 3.9 per game.