NBA

Has Wembanyama Sealed His Future as the NBA Rookie of the Year?

Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla Kaliser05/03/2024 - 01:07 pm
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

After Sunday night’s 117-105 win against the Indiana Pacers, Victor Wembanyama became the first rookie in NBA league history to record two consecutive games with over 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5-plus assists, and 5 or more blocks. The Spurs center dropped 31 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 blocks, and a steal in Sunday’s game against the Pacers, securing a new record for future NBA rookies to break. 

In Thursday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wembanyama secured 28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, and two steals in San Antonio’s 132-118 victory over the Thunder. While  Wemby made NBA rookie history, he also made NBA history in Thursday night’s game as he became the first NBA player to secure 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 5+ blocks, and 5+ three-pointers in a single game. 

These feats are another stepping stone in the French native’s race to the NBA Rookie of the Year award. The 20-year-old’s recent accomplishments increased his odds of being named NBA Rookie of the Year from -600 to -1,350. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren could stand in the way as he is the 20-year-old’s greatest adversary in the competition.  

Holmgren was the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft but was forced to sit out the entire 2022-2023 season due to complications from a foot injury. With the 2023-2024 season being considered his rookie season, Chet has averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, placing him in the Rookie of the Year award race. 

Following his performance this past week in conjunction with Wembanyama’s accomplishments, Holmgren’s odds of being named Rookie of the Year have decreased from +500 to +1,000. 

Despite the odds, Holmgren is the closest contender to Wemby for the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award, and the fate of the award has yet to be confirmed as more games remain to be played this season. 

In his first season in the NBA, the 7-foot-4 French sensation has lived up to the excitement that engulfed the NBA world when he got drafted. He was the most talked about NBA Draft prospect since legendary LeBron James in the 2003 NBA Draft. Wembanyama was perhaps one of the most highly anticipated athletes to declare for the NBA Draft, as he has been considered one of the greatest prospects of his generation. 

The 7-foot-4 player was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft as the San Antonio Spurs selected him. He joined Spurs superstars Tim Duncan and David Robinson as he was the franchise’s third No. 1 overall pick in San Antonio franchise history. 

As the French native made his NBA debut, he was widely compared to Shaquille O’Neal for his tall stature at 7’4”. Shortly after his NBA debut, Wembanyama proved that comparison to be accurate as he became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 1992 to score 100 points and 10 blocks in the first five games of his NBA career. 

On Thursday, November 2, 2023, in the fifth game of the season, the Spurs clinched a 132-121 victory over the Phoenix Suns, and fans saw Wemby secure 38 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. That night, the French sensation became part of an elite club as he joined LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the third teenager in NBA history to record over 35 points, 10-plus rebounds, and 2-plus blocks in a single game. 

On November 2, the Spurs rookie joined this elite club and became the first player to score at least 38 points in his first five NBA career games since John Drew accomplished this feat in 1974. 

The 20-year-old’s accomplishments did not stop there as he made NBA history yet again on Monday, February 12, following the Spurs’ 122-99 win over the Toronto Raptors. As he helped the Spurs clinch their victory, the French sensation scored 27 points, 14 rebounds, and a 10-block triple-double. The 20-year-old became the first player in NBA history to put up a 20-point, 10-block triple-double in less than 30 minutes. 

Adding to his recent accomplishments, the French sensation was named Rookie of the Month for the second month in a row as he received the February honor for the Western Conference. Wemby made franchise history once again as he became the first player to receive the award in back-to-back months since Tim Duncan did in his rookie season in 1998.

Time and time again, Wembanyama continues to excel and accomplish new records that have been unheard of for many years. With all his recent feats, the Spurs rookie seems close to sealing his fate in receiving this year’s NBA Rookie of the Year award.

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Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla Kaliser05/03/2024 - 01:07 pm

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