NBA Rookies: Wembanyama, Holmgren Highlight Friday Night Slate

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren lead a strong group of NBA rookie contests on Friday night.
NBA Rookies: Wembanyama, Holmgren Highlight Friday Night Slate
NBA Rookies: Wembanyama, Holmgren Highlight Friday Night Slate /

The 2023 NBA Draft was lauded as one of the best in the last decade. And so far it's fully lived up to the hype, as the class has gotten off to a white-hot start in the 2023-24 regular season.

The addition of former second overall pick Chet Holmgren — who missed his initial season with a foot injury suffered in a pro-am game last season — hasn't hurt at all either.

Here are a few of the top matchups to watch on Friday, Nov. 10:

Chet Holmgren Takes on Kings

Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Kings tonight in their second In-Season Tournament game, looking to push their record to 6-3.

Holmgren has been a revelation so far for OKC, averaging 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 blocks while shooting 58% overall and 56% from beyond the arc.

On Friday, he’ll see his first matchup with Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, who averaged a triple-double versus the Thunder last season.

Wembanyama Takes on Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert

Wembanyama, at 7-foot-4, has quickly taken the NBA by storm, putting up averages of 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

On Friday, however, he’ll matchup up against two of Minnesota’s 7-footers: Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. Not only two talented big men in their own right, but a duo that could be designed to stop him.

Wembanyama and Gobert both have history hailing from France, and it should be a fun one to tune in to.


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Derek Parker
DEREK PARKER

Derek is co-founder and publisher for Draft Digest and Inside The Thunder for Fan Nation, powered by Sports Illustrated. He has been a sports writer in the Oklahoma City market for five years now, primarily covering the NBA Draft and the Oklahoma City Thunder.