Kia Rookie Ladder

Kia Rookie Ladder: Victor Wembanyama has slight edge for No. 1 at midway point

Victor Wembanyama still reigns, but next week's showdown vs. Chet Holmgren could spark a change in our rookie rankings.

Steve Aschburner

Archive

January 17, 2024 4:26 PM

Victor Wembanyama came on strong late in the Spurs’ loss in Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

• NBA All-Star 2024: Vote here

Some might think it incongruous that San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama could be perched atop the Kia Rookie Ladder at midseason, yet the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren might be considered the Rookie of the First Half by so many media observers.

But there’s a method to the madness that had four out of five writers here at NBA.com picking the Thunder thin man as the top newcomer so far in 2023-24. Holmgren slipped seamlessly into a team that was ready for him last year (which he missed entirely due to a foot injury) and OKC’s charge up the West standings — 27-13, nine games better than a year ago — confirms it.

Wembanyama has had more of an experimental first half, with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich tinkering with his lineups. Plus there was Wembanyama’s cautionary minutes restriction (ankle) over the past month that concentrated his production into tighter packages.

The result: A 5-28 record through 33 games that was six games worse than a year ago, pre-Wemby.

However, a recent tweak that has pure point guard Tre Jones back as the starter and Wembanyama at center has caught fire. The Spurs are 2-4 in those games and the versatile rookie has averaged 23.8 points and 11 rebounds on 54.4% shooting.

That’s a tiny sample size, but for perspective, no Kia Rookie of the Year winner ever matches those numbers across the board. The second half is whatever Wembanyama, Popovich and the Spurs make of it.

Weekly recap:

• Holmgren got dunked on by Anthony Davis and blocked a shot by LeBron James in his first game in Los Angeles. He totaled only 17 points and 13 rebounds in games at Crypto.com Arena against the Lakers and the Clippers. But Holmgren still is on pace for a rare big man feat: Only Raef LaFrentz in 2001-02 ever shot at least 38% on 3s (averaging at least 3.0 attempts) and blocked 2.5 shots or more per game.

• The best rookie off the bench this week was Memphis forward GG Jackson, who averaged 15.7 points in three games. That included 20 in 27 minutes against the Knicks Saturday and 23 in 29 for the shorthanded Grizzlies Monday. His best moment came in the postgame interview when he heard Shaquille O’Neal on the other end of a headset.

• Portland’s Scoot Henderson gave boosters and critics plenty of ammo by scoring 33 points against Phoenix Sunday but needing 31 shots to get them. The No. 3 pick in June, Henderson hit four of his nine 3-pointers but was 7-of-22 inside the arc.

Find out why Chauncey Billups is a 'perfect mentor' for Scoot Henderson as NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner discusses the Kia Rookie Ladder.

• Jordan Hawkins started high on the Ladder this season, dropped off, and now is climbing back. What’s changing? His Pelicans teammates’ availability. When New Orleans was at its healthiest, Hawkins’ minutes dropped and he averaged 3.7 points and 4.2 shots in December. The rest of the time he’s been at 13 ppg and 10.2 FGA. But when he’s pressed into action for 24 minutes or more, New Orleans is just 8-10.

Storyline to watch

• Bragging Rights II. How eagerly is the Ladder committee looking forward to the next clash of Wembanyama and Holmgren next Wednesday in San Antonio (9:30 ET, ESPN)? Enough that the updated rankings will be held until the morning after to account for the matchup. In their first head-to-head on Nov. 14, neither dominated — Wemby had eight points on 4-of-15 shooting, Holmgren nine on 3-of-10 — but OKC’s rookie enjoyed a 123-87 victory. The teams play twice more after Wednesday: Feb. 29 again in San Antonio and April 10 in Oklahoma City.

Latest rankings

(All stats through Tuesday, Jan.16)

1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Season stats: 19.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.2 bpg
Last Ladder: 1
Draft pick: No. 1

Wembanyama disappointed, then awed fans in Atlanta, turning his scoreless first half into a 26-point outing by the final horn. He started last week with a triple-double at Detroit (16-12-10). And he acknowledged playing some mind tricks to summon up his best. “I like to be threatened to be sent to the G League if I don’t play the right way,” he said. Yeah, right.

2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

Season stats: 17.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.5 bpg
Last Ladder: 2
Draft pick: No. 2 (2022)

Holmgren was held to single digits twice in 24 hours in Los Angeles, with nine points against the Lakers Monday and eight at the Clippers Tuesday. That was his first time scoring fewer than 10 in consecutive games. Previously, he had done fine on the second night of back-to-backs (16.6 ppg, 70.2 FG%).

3. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat

Season stats: 14.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.7 apg
Last Ladder: 3
Draft pick: No. 18

Jaquez did not travel with the Heat on their current trip to Brooklyn and Toronto after suffering a groin strain vs. Charlotte Sunday. He averaged 16.7 ppg on 53.3% shooting in the past 10 games. The rehab gave some Heat fans time for Fun With Numbers.

4. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Season stats: 13.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.2 apg
Last Ladder: 4
Draft pick: No. 2

Fell after a dunk attempt vs. Spurs, ending the night early and leaving him questionable with a sore back to face the Pelicans Wednesday. Could impose a needed breather. “The biggest issue right now is he’s played too many minutes [15 games of 32+],” coach Steve Clifford said. “I just don’t like it when he’s not out there.”

5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Season stats: 8.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Last Ladder: 6
Draft pick: No. 12

Back from an ankle sprain that cost him five games, Lively II grabbed 12 rebounds in 26 minutes against New Orleans, seven on the offensive end. Mavericks are 20-10 when he plays, 4-7 when he doesn’t.

The Next 5:

6. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors

Season stats: 9.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg
Last Ladder: 5
Draft pick: No. 19

Showed out — 23 points, 10 rebounds — in start at hometown Milwaukee.

7. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

Season stats: 11.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.5 apg
Last Ladder: 7
Draft pick: No. 16

Jazz are 10-2 since his return from an ankle injury.

8. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans

Season stats: 10.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg
Last Ladder: 10
Draft pick: No. 14

He’s averaging 15.3 ppg when playing 21+ minutes … and 5 ppg otherwise.

9. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

Season stats: 12.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.0 apg
Last Ladder: 8
Draft pick: No. 3