Kia Rookie Ladder

Kia Rookie Ladder: Victor Wembanyama even better than expected

While it's only been 2 weeks, it's becoming clear that Victor Wembanyama is living up to his immense pre-Draft hype.

Steve Aschburner

November 8, 2023 1:23 PM

Check out every key highlight from Victor Wembanyama's first 5 games!

No sooner had the Kia Rookie Ladder gone up for the 2023-24 season than the committee found itself in a quandary.

There’s no denying the obvious: Victor Wembanyama looks to be the biggest lock for Kia Rookie of the Year since at least Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns (who got all 130 ROY first-place votes in 2015-16). Then again, it’s ridiculously early to concede an award, especially with so many strong first-year contributors showing out already.

So don’t look to the Ladder for any fabricated tension in its rankings. But know that it still will showcase other rookies who bring excitement into the arenas, to impact their teams’ performances and depth to the Class of 2023.

Weekly recap

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren lead the way on this week's Rookie Ladder as NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner joins GameTime.

• The last rookie to put up over a full season the stats line Victor Wembanyama has posted so far: David Robinson of the Spurs in 1989-90, a.k.a., 14 years before Wemby was born.

• Chet Holmgren’s late start as a rookie (he missed 2022-23 after foot surgery) has him in sync with Wembanyama in more ways than one. They’re the first two NBA players to get at least 10 blocks and 10 3-pointers through their first six appearances.

• Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller and Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson were the next two picks after Wemby in June. However, both have faced early hurdles: a bench role for Miller and an ankle sprain for Henderson.

• If you think you only have to pay attention to those top four rung-holders, guess again. A fleet of promising new guys are in on this climb as well, including the Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson (getting an early jump on his twin, Amen, in Houston), Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, New Orleans Pelicans marksman Jordan Hawkins and more.

Storyline to watch

Wembanyama hits Manhattan Wednesday night as the biggest buzz in the NBA makes his debut at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Before the next Ladder, he and the Spurs will face the Wolves and Heat, followed by a matchup with rookie rival Holmgren in an In-Season Tournament clash in Oklahoma City next Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

The Top 5 this week on the 2023-24 Kia Rookie Ladder:

(All stats through Monday, Nov. 6)

1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Season stats: 19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Draft pick: No. 1

The French freak of nature who leads all rookies in scoring, field-goal attempts, free throws and blocks poses a challenge unlike any other to individual opponents. Knicks center Mitchell Robinson gets points for creativity at least in anticipating his minutes vs. Wemby Wednesday: “I’m going to play him just like he’s one of those Kristaps Porzingis-kind of [bigs]. Who else play like that? Bol Bol? Just gotta mix them two together.”

2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

Season stats: 17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.4 bpg
Draft pick: No. 2 (in 2022)

Redshirting what would have been his rookie season figures to help the OKC center not unlike the ways Rookie of the Year winners Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons thrived by starting a year late. But some of what Holmgren has shown isn’t simply a matter of sitting in film sessions or watching practice from the side. He’s shooting 55.7% overall, 53.8% on 3-pointers and 90% on free throws.

3. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

Season stats: 12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
Draft pick: No. 5

The leading rebounder in the Class of ’23, at 6-foot-7, is giving up nine inches and five inches, respectively, to Wembanyama and Holmgren. This twin already has made up the lead his brother Amen had in getting picked one spot higher (and being born one minute earlier). The elite athlete and pesky defender already is getting attention as a future “5×5” box-score stuffer. (By the way, let’s deal with this now: It’s uh-SARR and uh-MEN.)

4. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Season stats: 13.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg
Draft pick: No. 2 overall

Miller already has cleared the low expectations he set in the preseason, to Hornets fans’ relief. Still, he will continue to face challenges in personal NBA firsts. Such as Sunday, which was his first back-to-back, his first start and his first time having to guard Kyrie Irving. The results: just seven points on 3-of-12 shooting in the loss to Dallas.

5. Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.1 apg
Draft pick: No. 12

Lively is one of the keys to the Mavericks’ 6-1 start and, at 7-foot-1, arguably the biggest. He has developed on-court chemistry with Irving and Luka Doncic, has attacked the offensive glass and is the rim protector in Dallas’ enhanced defense. Former Mavs center Tyson Chandler, working with the team’s big men recently, had the highest praise for Lively: “He reminds me of myself.”

The Next 5:

6. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans

Season stats: 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg
Draft pick: No. 14

Only two rookies have scored 30+ points in game so far: Wemby and this guy.

7. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

Season stats: 8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.6 apg
Draft pick: No. 3

He will miss his third straight game (ankle) Wednesday vs. Kings.

8. Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons

Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.8 apg
Draft pick: No. 25

The four-year college guard is earning minutes (and trust) in Detroit.

9. Julian Strawther, Denver Nuggets

Season stats: 6.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.5 apg
Draft pick: No. 29