As we veer closer to the halfway point of the NBA season one thing that has been of great interest to hoop fans and the media alike is who will take home the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Here are three suitors who could likely walk away with the award at the end of this season.
2024 NBA Rookie of the Year: San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama
Throughout the first 30 games of his career, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has looked every part of the franchise-altering talent he was projected to be in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Wembey currently leads all other rookies in scoring with 18.3 points per game. But his real impact can be felt on the defensive side of the floor, grabbing 10.3 rebounds per game and 3.25 blocks per game.
Wembanyama has also been great in helping defense for the Spurs; being able to switch with defenders at will, protecting the paint.
Wembey is fresh off a monster 30-point and seven-block performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. His electric 38-point game earlier this season against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, where this can be seen as a highlight of his young rookie career; going toe to toe with one of the best players in the NBA.
The Spurs are still in the midst of their rebuild, as their 4-29 record indicates, but there are reasons to believe the franchise can return to prominence once again thanks to 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year candidate Victor Wembyanama.
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2024 NBA Rookie of the Year: Oklahoma City Thunder Chet Holmgren
After sitting out the entire 2022-23 season due to injury, Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren has now gotten to show himself as a unique prospect from Gonzaga.
So far this season, Holmgren has been astounding for a young Thunder team looking to make some noise in the Western Conference. He averages 17.3 points per game for the Thunder, which holds him second in scoring for all rookies.
He provides floor spacing, three-point shooting (37% from beyond the arch), and defense (averaging 2.7 blocks per game).
Holmgren has put on some big-time performances. This includes his 36 points, ten rebounds, and five assist performance in the Thunder overtime win against the Golden State Warriors. He also had a strong showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, putting up 20 points on one of the best defensive big men in the game, Rudy Gobert.
The Thunder are currently in third place in the Western Conference and Holmgren has been a massive reason as to why they stand as a formidable squad throughout a loaded conference.
2024 NBA Rookie of the Year: Miami Heat Jaime Jaquez Jr.
After spending four years at UCLA, Jaquez Jr. was drafted by the Miami Heat with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 draft. So far he has proven to be a solid rotational player and potential 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Jaquez Jr. is currently averaging 13.8 points per game along with four rebounds. He is also hitting the three ball efficiently at 38% and has stepped up in a major way for the Heat with some impactful performances. Performances such as his historic 31-point Christmas Day game, helping lift the Heat past the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers in Philly.
The rookie small forward has been stepping up for the Heat, filling the void for stars like Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler, who have been out with injury. Jaquez Jr. was a great surprise for this Heat team, who were in the NBA Finals last season and have lost some pivotal rotational depth players during the offseason like Gabe Vincent and Max Strus.
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