Due to the glitz and glamor of the other individual accolades such as the MVP and DPOY, NBA enthusiasts often overlook the Rookie of the Year award. But this time, it is a different story. With the likes of Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren leading the race, it has become an exciting battle. However, Holmgren’s case is a little different, as he was part of the 2022 Draft class. Since injury forced him to miss the entire 2022-23 season, he is eligible for the RoY this time around. But a 4x All-Star has taken exception to it and expects the Spurs to do the same.

While some side with the immaculate performer Chet Holmgren, others argue that Victor Wembanyama should be crowned the rookie. This race continues to be an interesting talking point for all as both the players are displaying top-notch basketball skills. Giving his thoughts on this topic, former Houston Rockets star Ralph Sampson gave voice to many on Sirius XM NBA Radio.

He agreed with the underlying debate of ‘Chet Holmgren is not a real rookie’. He added, “He was around the game, in practice, watching and working out with the pros. This is different to Wembanyama working out and playing overseas. It is a big big difference.”

He further gave a reasoning to his statement saying, “His body is more mature, he knows the system a little better, and he got the better caliber, so he’s not a real rookie. You can say with the injury he didn’t play. But he’s got advantages for sure.” He then sided with the Frenchman, saying, “If I was Wembanyama and Popovich I’d say he’s not a real rookie. I would definitely fight for that for sure.” 

With the NBA regular season continuing after the All-Star Weekend break, both Holmgren and Wembanyama continue to improve their stats.

Victor Wembanyama vs Chel Holmgren: Who’s the next best?

Both the top contenders on the Rookie of the Year list threaten their opponents on either side of the floor and are physical specimens. However, the two 7-foot-plus towering giants do have some statistical differences. With more than one year of experience in the NBA, Chet currently averages 17.1 PPG, shooting 54% from the floor.

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Comparatively, Wemby, with a 46.4% FG, averages 20.1 points per game. Chet also leads with his beyond-the-arc shots with 40.1% contrasting with Victor Wembanyama and his 31.7% three-point FG. However, the San Antonio Spurs center is ahead with 10.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Relatively, the Thunder star averages 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Undeniably, Wemby and Chet are two of the greatest rookies to have ever stepped onto the court. However, when it comes to who is better, there seems to be no clear answer. It will be interesting to see how their paths realign as they continue to grow in the game.

Who do you think should be the Rookie of the Year?

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