The Top 5 this week on the 2022-23 Kia Rookie Ladder: (All stats through Monday, Nov. 6) 1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Season stats: 19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg Draft pick: No. 1 The French freak of nature who leads all rookies in scoring, field-goal attempts, free throws and blocks poses a challenge unlike any other to individual opponents. Knicks center Mitchell Robinson gets points for creativity at least in anticipating his minutes vs. Wemby Wednesday: “I’m going to play him just like he’s one of those Kristaps Porzingis-kind of [bigs]. Who else play like that? Bol Bol? Just gotta mix them two together.” 2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.4 bpg Draft pick: No. 2 (in 2022) Redshirting what would have been his rookie season figures to help the OKC center not unlike the ways Rookie of the Year winners Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons thrived by starting a year late. But some of what Holmgren has shown isn’t simply a matter of sitting in film sessions or watching practice from the side. He’s shooting 55.7% overall, 53.8% on 3-pointers and 90% on free throws. 3. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.8 apg Draft pick: No. 5 The leading rebounder in the Class of ’23, at 6-foot-7, is giving up nine inches and five inches, respectively, to Wembanyama and Holmgren. This twin already has made up the lead his brother Amen had in getting picked one spot higher (and being born one minute earlier). The elite athlete and pesky defender already is getting attention as a future “5×5” box-score stuffer. (By the way, let’s deal with this now: It’s uh-SARR and uh-MEN.) 4. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets Season stats: 13.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg Draft pick: No. 2 overall Miller already has cleared the low expectations he set in the preseason, to Hornets fans’ relief. Still, he will continue to face challenges in personal NBA firsts. Such as Sunday, which was his first back-to-back, his first start and his first time having to guard Kyrie Irving. The results: just seven points on 3-of-12 shooting in the loss to Dallas. 5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.1 apg Draft pick: No. 12 Lively is one of the keys to the Mavericks’ 6-1 start and, at 7-foot-1, arguably the biggest. He has developed on-court chemistry with Irving and Luka Doncic, has attacked the offensive glass and is the rim protector in Dallas’ enhanced defense. Former Mavs center Tyson Chandler, working with the team’s big men recently, had the highest praise for Lively: “He reminds me of myself.” The Next 5: 6. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans Season stats: 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg Draft pick: No. 14 Only two rookies have scored 30+ points in game so far: Wemby and this guy. 7. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers Season stats: 8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.6 apg Draft pick: No. 3 He will miss his third straight game (ankle) Wednesday vs. Kings. 8. Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.8 apg Draft pick: No. 25 The four-year college guard is earning minutes (and trust) in Detroit. 9. Julian Strawther, Denver Nuggets Season stats: 6.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.5 apg Draft pick: No. 29 He has more 3-pointers already (9) than Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kyrie Irving and Khris Middleton. 10. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 8.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg Draft pick: No. 10 Tested with tough covers while shooting 68.8% overall (and 6-for-11 on 3-pointers). https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-nov-8-2023-edition
1. Wemby 2. Chet 3. Ausar 4. Brandon Miller 5. Lively II 6. Hawkins 7. Scoot 8. Sasser 9. Strawther 10. Cason Wallace
Pelton: 1. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder 2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs 3. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons 4. Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons 5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks 6. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder 7. Jamie Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat 8. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets 9. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans 10. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors Marks: The top 10 for me looks nearly identical except I am going to flip Lively II for Wallace: 1. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder 2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs 3. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons 4. Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons 5. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder 6. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks 7. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat 8. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets 9. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans 10. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/38898270/nba-rookie-power-rankings-chet-wemby
KIA Ladder 2nd Edition 1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Season stats: 18.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.4 bpg Last Ladder: 1 Draft pick: No. 1 Wembanyama’s 14 rebounds Tuesday in the nationally televised game at Paycom Center was the only eye-popping stat for him or Holmgren. Otherwise, he scored eight points on 4-of-15 shooting with a couple of assists and blocks. He’s down to 43.2% shooting overall and 28.3% on 3-pointers. 2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Season stats: 15.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.2 bpg Last Ladder: 2 Draft pick: No. 2 (2022) The Spurs had an 0-4 week, dropping Wembanyama’s team to 3-8. Holmgren, with a more advanced cast around him, has helped OKC to a 7-4 mark, including 3-1 this week. Team success isn’t historically a huge factor in Rookie of the Year balloting. But at some point, winning and each candidate’s plus/minus numbers will play some role (Holmgren is +55 so far to Wemby’s -60). He also is shooting 52.7% overall and 46.3% on 3-pointers. 3. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 12.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.7 apg Last Ladder: 3 Draft pick: No. 5 Filling up stat sheets officially boosted the athletic Detroit wing to double-double status for the season (though he has done it just twice in his appearances). His 21 points vs. the Hawks Tuesday were his personal high so far. And while Thompson hasn’t fouled out, he is tied for the NBA lead in fouls (40) with teammate Cade Cunningham and Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. 4. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans Season stats: 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg Last Ladder: 6 Draft pick: No. 14 Hawkins scored 25 vs. Dallas on Tuesday. Though he’s shooting 37.7% overall, he’s at 36.6% from the arc and his 32 threes top all rookies by at least 13. “I don’t care about missing a shot,” he said. “I know the next one is going in.” 5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks Season stats: 8.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 apg Last Ladder: 5 Draft pick: No. 12 One test of a player’s value is how his team fares without him. Well, Lively was sick and missed the Toronto game, and the Raptors promptly outscored Dallas by 32 in the paint with a 12-rebound advantage. The Next 5: 6. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets Season stats: 12.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.6 apg Last Ladder: 4 Draft pick: No. 2 overall Sprained ankle in first 10 minutes vs. Knicks, missed Miami game on Tuesday. 7. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat Season stats: 9.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg Last Ladder: — Draft pick: No. 18 Four straight games with 10+ points (averaging 31.2 mpg and 53.3% FG during that span). 8. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz Season stats: 8.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.8 apg Last Ladder: — Draft pick: No.16 Averaging 9.0 assists as starting point guard, with 2-1 record. 9. Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards Season stats: 8.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.8 apg Last Ladder: — Draft pick: No. 7 A +5.5 week, including 20 points vs. Nets. 10. Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons Season stats: 9.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.9 apg Last Ladder: 8 Draft pick: No. 25 Scored 26 points in less than 29 minutes at Milwaukee.
NBA desperate to give ROY to Wembanyama. Haven't seen Roy this rigged since Sacramento's Tyreke Evans.
Wemby's long term upside is higher due to his cartoonish length, but Chet's skillset and feel for the game is light years ahead right now.
There is a world where Victor might not shoot that well. Whoever is the better shooter, will have a huge advantage.
Chet has pretty freakish wingspan himself. Wemby might be the only guy with a longer wingspan in the league. I think Chet is a bit more explosive movement wise too
Hey, at least let them have somebody......I am thinking is there a Double Citizenship that allows Mexican and US?
Yes. I wanted one for a while, but never went through with it. I doubt Jaquez has it, though. Seems Chicano through and through.
He's got some kind of arrangement......that is why Hoops Hype had him as Mexican, he played for the National team. At some point he had some sort of citizenship.....Bball is even more lax than soccer, you can switch sides easily. https://dailybruin.com/2020/02/28/j...a-proud-aims-to-inspire-future-latino-players
