Chet Holmgren wants to remind you that Victor Wembanyama is not the only contender for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
The San Antonio Spurs rookie has been everything fans could hope for, standing at 7-foot-4 with impressive offensive skills and elite defense from the start. However, Holmgren has also been exceptional for the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team actively vying for a playoff spot.
Holmgren recently had a standout performance, scoring 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block against the Golden State Warriors. He made a game-tying, buzzer-beating, turnaround 3-pointer to send the game to overtime, as shown in this Thunder video.
The Thunder went on to win 130-123 in overtime, improving their record to 9-4. It was a night of impressive performances for OKC, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also contributing 40 points.
Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama Are Both Exceptional
Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, was somewhat overlooked at the start of this season due to missing the previous season with a foot injury. However, he has performed similarly to Wembanyama since the season began. Though their first matchup was not as anticipated, both have shown great potential. The difference is that the Spurs are struggling with a 3-10 record, while the Thunder have multiple star players and playoff aspirations, where Holmgren has seamlessly fit in.
It’s important to note the impressive performance of the Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson, who is also off to a strong start as a rookie. The competition for Rookie of the Year is stacked, with other top picks also finding their footing.
Both Holmgren and Wembanyama would be deserving of the Rookie of the Year award at this point. Fortunately, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played and more statements to be made.