NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Where does Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II land?

2. Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren is one of the rare second-year rookies. After a torn Achilles he suffered just months before the 2022-23 NBA season tipped off, Holmgren would need to sit out the whole season. This has seemingly benefited the second-year rookie as he has played amazingly for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

At 7-foot-1 with a wicked 7-foot-6 wingspan, Holmgren could easily deflect difficult balls out of bounds, and he has done just this in the NBA. Averaging around 2.5 blocks per game, Holmgren has single-handily anchored down the Thunder defense.

Holmgren even had a season-high seven blocks in a contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Holmgren's seven rejections led the way for a Thunder 108-105 win over the talented Cavaliers squad.

Offensively, the young center has also had his presence felt as he accounts for 17 points per game and just under two offensive rebounds per game. With numbers like this to begin his career, it's hard not to buy stock in Holmgren's career.

Landing number two on this list isn't a slouch to begin the season. Fans could even argue that Holmgren has been more consistent than Wembanyama. Additionally, the Thunder have proven to be a more competitive team over the last few games.

Wins don't necessarily determine who will win Rookie of The Year, but it could be a factor that sways some voters late into the season. Holmgren has surely made some valuable arguments for that number-one spot, but as it stands Wembanyama holds that place.