“I’m Rookie of the Year!” Jared McCain boldly claimed after dropping one of his six threes in tonight’s win against the Nets. Sure enough, he has the numbers to back it up as he is leading the rookies in scoring with 16.5 points per game. But his claim might be under threat because Dalton Knecht is not too far behind. Yes, the Lakers rookie has exceeded expectations and has become an instant star among fans. As the ROTY race gets heated, league executives and scouts have already begun chiming in on the debate.

Surely, no one expected the ROTY race to be highlighted by number 16 and 17 picks. But with this year’s draft class lacking the star power on top, it truly is anybody’s trophy to win. And McCain and Knecht have stepped up to the opportunity. As per veteran insider Tim Bontemps, an executive who saw McCain play recently had high praise for him, “He’s smart, he’s got guile and he’s got an NBA skill.”

With the Sixers’ Big Three missing multiple games due to injury, McCain is getting an unexpected opportunity to shine, and he is making the most of it. After tonight’s epic performance, he has become the player with most made three-pointers (24) through first five career starts in league history. Moreover, the rookie’s confidence has impressed everyone as one scout said, “He’s one of the most confident, self-assured kids you’ll ever meet.” Seeing his potential, the anonymous executive claimed Jared could be a solid “ten-year pro.”

On the other hand, Knecht has shocked everyone with his clutch shot making and made people wonder how he fell so low in the draft. Obviously, a lot of his rise has to do with playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who are masters of finding teammates for open shots. But the player still needs to sink them to count, and Knecht has done that at a high level. Sure enough, he has caught many scouts’ attention as one told ESPN, “He’s proof of why it can work… if they have a sure NBA skill. He has one in his shot, and shooting is at a premium.” The rookie is shooting a whopping 46.1% from deep range. Well, Knecht is only two spots behind McCain in the scoring department with an 11.7-point average. And he could catch up very soon if he continues to play like he has been.

Jared McCain and Dalton Knecht received the stamp of approval from their veteran leaders

Obviously, scouts and executives are not the only ones impressed with McCain and Knecht’s talent. They have also won their teammates’ hearts, especially their veteran leaders. After Knecht went off for a career-high 37 points against Utah, LeBron James even called out the sixteen teams that passed on the rookie in the draft, “They didn’t find DK. The other 16 teams fu*ked it up. Did anybody watch him? Sh*t!” Maybe, he did not get picked higher because Dalton is already 23-years-old and many scouts believe older prospects lack upside. But the Lakers took the risk and it paid off.

LeBron continued, “I been said it. I watched him. I watched Tennessee a lot. I did not think he was going to fall to us. I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how that happened. But I’m very grateful, and I’m very happy that he’s here. I knew exactly what we were getting when he fell to seventeen.” Meanwhile, McCain has left a similar impression on Paul George as he chimed in on the ROTY debate, “He should be a candidate. We definitely got to step our sh*t up. He can’t be our most consistent player. We all gotta step our sh*t up and match that energy. He’s got a great future.”

So far, McCain has been the only bright spot amid the Sixers’ abysmal start as they struggle to find wins. But the rookie got them one tonight with his 30-point outburst. Well, the season is long and it is too early to determine who will take home the Rookie of the Year trophy. But Knecht and McCain are definitely looking like top contenders right now. Who do you think will win?