Is The NBA’s Rookie Of The Year Race Over?
Victor Wembanyama came off the All-Star Break with his eyes set on history. In his Thursday night game against the Sacramento Kings, the San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-4 big man filled the stat sheet with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks.
With 4 assists, he fell just a single dime shy of becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a “5x5” game, a performance in which a player records five or more points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Wemabanyama fell short of the record books, but regardless of age, this statistical feat had only been accomplished 15 previous times in history. The first overall pick’s proximity to such an accomplishment was impressive in itself.
Wembanyama followed this performance up by preparing for the second night of San Antonio’s back-to-back. This time, the Spurs would be visiting the Los Angeles Lakers for a Friday night fixture.
In this match, Wembanyama did the seemingly impossible. He recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks. The night after he fell just short of a 5x5 game, he did it. He’s now the youngest player to ever record a 5x5 by game and has done so in the least amount of minutes ever with under 31 minutes of playing time.
These back-to-back masterclass performances from Wembanyama represent a larger trend for the Frenchman. He’s continued to progress all season, and now provides star-level impact. In his last 25 games, he’s averaged 23 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc, and 84.8% from the free throw line. He’s already one of the most impactful defensive players in the league, and he’s figuring out how to deploy his rare scoring arsenal.
But after his recent stretch, is the Rookie Of The Year race over?
Chet Holmgren has been incredible in his own right for the Oklahoma City Thunder. His defensive impact compares to Welbanyama’s and he’s averaging 16.9 points for a top seed in the Western Conference. However, he’s simply not as talented as Wembanyama. Holmgren’s rookie season has been one to remember in many ways, but ultimately, Wembanyama is one-of-one and the likely 2024 Rookie Of The Year award winner.
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