
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 20: Former NBA player Magic Johnson attends the 29th Annual Achilles Gala at Cipriani South Street on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 20: Former NBA player Magic Johnson attends the 29th Annual Achilles Gala at Cipriani South Street on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Having played with Magic Johnson and other Hall of Famers on the ‘Showtime Lakers’, Byron Scott can identify talent and star potential when he sees it. So it did not take him long to crown both Victor Wembanyama and Chet Homlgren as the stars of the future. After witnessing the potential of the two rookies, the 3x champion is placing his bets on them.
As the Rookie of the Year race is closer than it has ever been before, do Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have what it takes to lead the NBA into the future?
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Bryon Scott sees Magic Johnson-like potential in these rookies
As the 2023–24 Rookie of the Year race is heating up, Holmgren has taken over Victor Wembanyama currently in the standings, and this NBA legend believes that these two will eventually become the faces of the NBA within the next decade.

USA Today via Reuters
Nov 14, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) drives past San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
As a player, Bryon Scott has played with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and more. But after his playing career, he became a coach in the NBA and has worked with Hall of Famers like Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd. So Scott can spot star potential when he sees it.
During a recent interview with The U.S. Sun, Byron Scott said, “Both are very exciting rookies that I think are gonna be faces of this league in about the next five to ten years.“
Although the two are still playing their first season in the NBA, Scott believes that Holmgren has the chance to get there sooner as he is already in a better place and has been around the NBA longer.
Who will win the Rookie of the Year award?
Victor Wembanyama lost his spot in the rookie leaderboard to Chet Holmgren a few weeks ago. This is mostly because of the consistent level of play displayed by Holmgren while also being on a better team. As Wembanyama has recently started to push himself more on the court, which led to the Spurs snapping their 18-game losing streak, it didn’t take long for Holmgren to do something of his own as well. While going up against the reigning NBA champions, Chet Holmgren had nine blocks in a game against the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets.
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Both rookies have had a stellar season so far and are averaging unbelievable numbers. Holmgren has shocked everyone with his shooting prowess, which people were not expecting. Although Wembanyama is averaging more points than Holmgren, his shooting needs to get better.
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But Holmgren has been training in the NBA for over a year now and is already on a far better team than Wembanyama. With how things are currently, Holmgren may be headed to become the Rookie of the Year.
As their competition heats up, who do you think will win the ROTY award?
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