NBA Rookie of the Year Race: 5 leaders after 8 days of 2023-24 season action

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#3. Ausar Thompson

The No. 5 pick of the 2023 draft could make the NBA Rookie of the Year race more interesting. Ausar Thompson debuted against the Miami Heat with four points, seven rebounds, five blocks and three steals. He quickly showed a little bit of everything that he could do on both ends of the floor.

Thompson has only gotten better in each of his last three games, helping the Detroit Pistons to a 2-2 lead. His performance against the OKC Thunder on Monday was his most impressive yet. He finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal.

Ausar Thompson is averaging 8.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and an outstanding 2.5 blocks per game. Thompson plays much bigger than his frame and quietly does his job on both ends of the floor.

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#2. Victor Wembanyama

A poor debut for the San Antonio Spurs against the Mavericks has not diminished the hype or expectations heaped on Victor Wembanyama. He remains the favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Wembanyama badly struggled in his first NBA game. He was hampered by foul trouble against the Mavericks but came up big later in the fourth quarter in the Spurs’ loss.

In four games with the San Antonio Spurs, he is averaging 16.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals.

Every game, “Wemby” has had players and fans often reacting in disbelief at what he can do. The bad news for opponents is that the NBA Rookie of the Year favorite is expected to only get better.

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#1. Chet Holmgren

OKC Thunder fans waited for an entire season for Chet Holmgren to recover from a freak foot injury. Now that he’s available, he’s showing Thunder diehards that he was worth the wait.

Oklahoma is 3-1 to open the new season. Holmgren had his fingerprints in each of those games. He is averaging 15 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals.

Chet Holmgren struggled against bigger and more bruising centers like Nikola Jokic. Still, the Thunder are excited by what he has shown on both ends of the floor. Holmgren’s 62.5% shooting from deep has opened the lane for Shai-Gilgeous Alexander to do more damage.