Chet Holmgren's Rookie of the Year Case Goes Beyond His Stats

The young Thunder star has put up impressive individual numbers and has been integral to the team's success.

Winning doesn’t often matter when it comes to NBA Rookie of the Year, but this season could be an exception.

Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama continue to battle for the honor awarded to the NBA’s top rookie and recently had their second matchup of the season. In the Thunder’s 140-114 win in San Antonio on Wednesday, the young stars again made their cases for being the league’s top rookie.

While Wembanyama’s highlights and flashy plays are sure to garner more attention than Holmgren’s, their matchup was a perfect example of what makes this season’s race unique. The Spurs’ star had flashes where he looked like the best player on the floor and finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.

The Thunder’s 7-footer had a similar stat sheet: 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Although Wembanyama’s numbers are better, Holmgren’s impact on the Thunder’s 26-point win and 31-13 record cannot be understated.

After Oklahoma City spent much of the past few seasons without a reliable presence down low, Holmgren has transformed the team on a number of levels. Sneaking into the play-in tournament was a major success for Oklahoma City last season. Still, as it now sits at the top of the Western Conference standings, the addition of a 7-footer who can do almost anything has been a significant difference-maker.

Through 44 games, the Thunder center is averaging 17.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while ranking fourth in the league in blocks per game. Yet, Holmgren’s argument for Rookie of the Year can be traced to his interview with the New York Times last season.

“It’s not like we’re losing every game by 30 points,” Holmgren said. “I don’t have to try to come in and be Superman. I just have to figure out how to help make this team 5 points better and then keep building from there.”

The Gonzaga product has delivered on that promise when comparing the Thunder’s net rating over the past two seasons. With him on the floor this season, the Thunder is outscoring opponents by 7.3 more points per 100 possessions than they did in 2022-23.

While that remarkable improvement is not entirely because of one player, Holmgren’s play has defined Oklahoma City’s approach this season. And in return, the Thunder has defined Holmgren’s hopes to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

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