In their initial encounter in November, Victor Wembanyama put up 22 points while Nikola Jokic came close to a 39-point triple-double. The essence of an NBA rookie’s season can be boiled down to drafting and developing top prospects to eventually win games. History shows that many elite rookies have made immediate impacts on their teams and gone on to win championships. This week’s Kia Rookie Ladder includes a comparison of each team’s record with their rookie compared to the same number of games last season.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs continues to shine, though his team’s record hasn’t improved. Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been a key piece in their 14-game improvement. Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets is showing promise despite his team’s struggles. The Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II also stand out in this week’s rookie rankings.
Looking ahead, fans can catch future MVPs in action when Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama face off in their upcoming matchups. As the season progresses, the rookie rankings are sure to evolve, giving fans more reasons to stay tuned and see how these young talents develop.