This season’s rookie class has set the scales on astronomical heights. From the very get-go, it was noticeably obvious – this group has something wonderous about it. Led by the French sensation, Victor Wembanyama, the 2023 class is among the most gifted talents in a long time. They rival the elusive class of 2003, the one that welcomed several modern-day pioneers including LeBron James. Despite the extensive amounts of dexterity among the rookies, Wembanyama has earned his place as the favorite to capture the ROTY throne.

Most fans and pundits might have already put his name in the ballot as well. However, there was one man who is technically a rookie and might give the 7’4″ anomaly a run for his money. Having to watch from the sidelines the entirety of last year, OKC’s Chet Holmgren is hungry and yearning to earn his place as the next-gen superstar. And to do so, he needs to trump the highly touted Wemby this season.

So far, both these giants seem miles ahead of the rest, and in a dual of their own. So who is the 7-footer that will defeat the other? Before naming the pick, let’s look at a little bit of history these two share.

Victor Wembnayama and Chet Holmgren met before the NBA

It was years before putting on an NBA jersey that these two became opposing acquaintances. During the FIBA U19 World Cup, USA and France were the two powerhouses led by the respective point centers. It all boiled down to the ultimate clash in the finals of the tournament. On one end was France’s Wembanyama – only 17 at the time yet he had no difficulties in asserting himself over any opponent. Facing off against him was Holmgren, who himself had an impressive campaign raising his stock for the impending NBA draft.

The showdown went as fans would expect. A gritty, hard-fought, and intense battle with overwhelming physicality. Wembanyama was the dominant figure among the 10 on the court, tallying 22 points, 8 rebounds, and blocks against his American rivals. Unfortunately, his excessive aggression put him in foul territory, unable to stop what would be the USA’s triumphant barrage.

Holmgren led an 11-0 run for his country, scoring five of his ten in that stretch. Ultimately, the USA snatched the win from under France’s paws, lifting the trophy with an 83-81 win. The now Oklahoma City Thunder whiz captured MVP honors and was named into the All-Star Five alongside Victor Wembanyama.

That would be their only battle for years until each of them finally put on an NBA jersey and locked horns as rookies in a preseason war.

The Preseason showdown

On October 9, the first game of the preseason for both sides. It was the battleground where two sensations would clash to claim the spot as the top chief. All eyes started down on the opposing 7-foot wonder kids who once again took center stage as rivals. The atmosphere was fierce. Once the opening tip went in the air, the script came clear. Even though it was two teams facing off, it would soon progress into a one-on-one throwdown between the two remarkable rookies.

There was no kindness involved in the duel. Wembanyama who flexed right over Holmgren after overpowering him for a bucket looked to be the ‘alien’ after all. But Chet Holmgren wasn’t going to concede, and the two targeted each other throughout their limited minutes on the court. By the end, Wemby had another finesse display, finishing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Still, he fell a hair short of exacting the U19 revenge on Holmgren. The Thunder starlet stole the night with 21 points and 9 rebounds in hardly 16 minutes. Oklahoma won the contest 122-121, 2-0 to Holmgren.

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From that day on it has become a tightly contested marathon between them for the title of the best rookie. So far into this season, we still can’t tell who is better.

So who will be the Rookie of The Year?

The months of anticipation over Wembanyama’s first game led to what was an underwhelming debut for the former Metropolitans 92 superstar. He seemed overwhelmed by the momentous occasion, shaky, and at times even failing to stay balanced. He found himself being careless, garnering five quick fouls and sitting out for more than half the game against the Dallas Mavericks. While the way he moves and the things he is able to do are unnatural, this time it looked ugly. He managed to still score 15 points but also turned the ball over 5 times.

The wiry Frenchman’s career didn’t start as many projected, and the doubts started creeping in. Will Wemby be able to handle the excruciating platform and the strength of the NBA? Slowly but surely, he has managed to wipe off the uncertainty. The 19-year-old found his rhythm and, more importantly, his fit in a relatively young San Antonio Spurs team.

He saved his best for his game against his favorite player – Kevin Durant and the Suns. Facing them back to back, in the first game, Wemby was clutch, scoring 18 points, including an essential throwback dunk in the Spurs’ bewildering comeback win. The next time, which came after a day’s break was a Wembanyama unveiling of the highest order. He dropped 38 points and 10 rebounds on KD and Devin Booker, shattering the record books and entering his franchise’s rich history. It was all that we had seen from the teen in social media highlights. An unstoppable jumper, a perennial mismatch, and an explosive shot blocker.

The game boosted his stars as he is averaging 20.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

On the other end, Chet Holmgren is playing on an OKC side that is a sleeper pick to make the playoffs this season. His position varies far from that of Wemby. While his ROTY rival is the central force, Holmgren is a close second or maybe third option scorer on the side. Despite his limited shots, Holmgren has preached an efficient arsenal making over 64% of his shots and over 50% of his three-point attempts. In the first game without Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, the Thunder starlet played with an elevated offensive freedom scoring 24 points against the Golden State Warriors in what was a controversial loss for the Thunder.

In six starts so far, Holgrem is putting up 17.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

As far as numbers go, the radar leans toward Victor Wembanyama. But anyone who has watched both might pick Holmgren as the more mature and comfortable player. The OKC center is far more composed and mindful of his place on the court. Instead of forcing shots, Holmgren abides by the system and can involve his teammates, resulting in a more organized offense. Up until now, Wembanyama hasn’t proven to be a facilitator but rather a man hunting for the ball to score. With his size and advantage, his mentality isn’t a surprise either. But when it comes to who is having a greater impact, I would have to say it is Chet Holmgren.

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Don’t be surprised if he eclipses Wembanyama this season. Remember, he has a year advantage when it comes to understanding the NBA’s nuances and he knows his teammates better in comparison to Wembanyama.