(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
As far as NBA rookies are concerned, all eyes this season are on Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenom for the San Antonio Spurs who was the No. 1 pick in June’s draft.
He has been described as a generational talent, and many believe that within five years or so, he could be playing at an MVP level.
In his first preseason game on Monday, the French native had 20 points on 8-of-13 overall shooting and 2-of-5 from 3-point range, plus five rebounds, two steals, and one blocked shot in just 19 minutes.
On the other side, Chet Holmgren, another incoming rookie big man, scored 21 points while grabbing nine rebounds as his Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Spurs, 122-121.
Former NBA player Richard Jefferson went against the grain when he picked Holmgren to be this season’s Rookie of the Year, via NBA on ESPN.
“I think personally, it’s going to be Chet Holmgren.”@Rjeff24 is all in on Chet winning ROY pic.twitter.com/tB4F16wKr4
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 10, 2023
Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, but he missed all of last season due to a severe foot injury he suffered in a summertime pro-am game.
Jefferson feels the fact that Holmgren had to sit and watch all throughout the 2022-23 campaign will help him beat out Wembanyama for the award this year.
Jefferson also feels the fact that Holmgren is playing on a playoff contender in the Thunder that has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will take pressure off him and allow him to play his natural game without having to do too much too soon.
The one big concern for both Wembanyama and Holmgren is their rail-thin frames, which may have trouble holding up to the rigors of a long NBA season — both weigh just over 200 pounds.
But make no mistake — both have tremendous potential in the years to come.
The post Richard Jefferson Picks His 2024 ROY Favorite appeared first on The Cold Wire.