This year’s NBA Rookie of the Year race has been one for the ages. Two future superstars, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, have been the frontrunners to win the prestigious ROTY award throughout the season. While Wembanyama has better individual stats as a rookie, Holmgren has helped his team rank 2nd in the Western Conference standings. With no definite criteria, it is up to the voters if they want to reward individual stats or team success.

Warriors Center Draymond Green took a hard call between Wemby and Chet and revealed his pick to win the ROTY award. During The Draymond Green Show, the Warriors star claimed he wanted Victor Wembanyama to win ROTY due to a technicality. While Chet Holmgren is technically a rookie this year, he got drafted into the NBA in 2022. Holmgren missed the entire 2022-23 season after suffering a Lisfranc fracture during a CrawsOver Pro-Am game. So, Holmgren is a second-year player despite being a rookie. And Draymond revealed he had an issue with that, “I just can’t agree with second-year guys winning Rookie of the Year.”

According to Draymond, even if a player misses an entire season due to an injury, he learns a lot while being sidelined. Players are constantly involved with the team during practices and get access to NBA knowledge despite being injured. “You are doing all of these things that NBA players do for an entire year. That makes a difference.” Green added. Even though Holmgren was injured during his original rookie year, he has an undue advantage over Wembanyama due to the experience he gained last season. That is why Draymond wants Wemby to walk away with the ROTY trophy.

The ROTY award eligibility debate has been going on for years

Chet Holmgren is not the first player in NBA history to be one of the frontrunners in the ROTY race despite being a second-year player. There have been a few players who have won the award facing the same situation. In 2018, Ben Simmons beat Donovan Mitchell in the ROTY race despite being drafted in 2016. Simmons missed his entire rookie season due to a foot injury and won the ROTY award the following year. That even led to a beef between Mitchell and Simmons regarding the eligibility criteria.

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Donovan Mitchell had a viral moment during that beef when he wore a hoodie with the definition of “rookie” printed on it to a game.

Other notable players to have won the ROTY award in their second year include Blake Griffin and David Robinson. The eligibility criteria for the ROTY award have been debated for years. And it does not look like it will change anytime soon.

Do you agree with Draymond Green on 2nd year players and ROTY criteria? Who do you think deserves ROTY more? Let us know in the comments below.