The NBA regular season has come to an end, and the first-year players were filled with great performances. Victor Wembaneyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, did not disappoint in his rookie year. The future is bright for the young star as the San Antonio Spurs continue to rebuild their franchise around him.
“I would say right now I'm 15 percent between my first NBA game and my desired prime,” Wenbanyama told Theo Quintal of Eurosport France.
Wenbanyama's record-setting rookie season didn't get much attention, but so did several other players, including Chet Holmgren, who was playing his first season after missing last year with an injury, and Memphis second-round sleeper GG Jackson. It didn't attract attention.
Finally, let's take a look at Yahoo Sports' rookie rankings for the 2023-24 season.
Draft slot: No.1
previous rank: 1
Wenbanyama has done something this season that no other player has been able to do, exceeding all expectations in his first season. He finished the regular season leading all rookies in blocks (254), steals (88), rebounds (755), field goals made (551) and total points (1,522). He also led the entire NBA in total blocks and steals this season (332) and had the best 3-point field goal percentage from stepbacks at 46.2% (min. 50 3-point field goal attempts). .
In a recent win over the Denver Nuggets, Wembaneyama scored 17 points in less than three minutes and finished with a team-high 34 points. He is a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year and has continued to shine all season. He finished the season averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks in 29.7 minutes of play.
In the 2003-04 season, LeBron James averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 39.5 minutes as a rookie. James is currently in his 21st season and is a 20-time All-Star. It's not outside the realm of possibility to predict that Wenbanyama could have a similarly successful career.
Draft slot (2022): No.2
Previous rank: 2
Holmgren was one of only two rookies to play in all 82 regular season games this year and led all rookies in minutes played. If anyone was targeting Wenbanyama for the top rookie spot, it was Holmgren. He has been very impressive in his first year and is changing the way the center position is played alongside Wembane Yama.
Holmgren can stretch the floor and take players off the dribble and is also an elite rim protector with a 7-6 wingspan. During his regular season, Holmgren averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and shot 37% from 3-point range. He has played a key role in the Thunder's successful development, and the rivalry that has developed between Holmgren and Wenbanyama will be must-see on TV.
Draft slot: No.2
Previous rank: 3
Miller became the Hornets' No. 1 option by season's end, silencing any doubts about his physicality and shot creativity. He thrived this season without LaMelo Ball, averaging 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent from the field. Miller led all rookies in 3-point field goal attempts (184) and averaged the most minutes played (32.2). In any other year, Miller would have been a top candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Draft slot: No.4
Previous rank: 7
Thompson completed a strong regular season with his first career triple-double in Sunday's win over the Clippers. He had a great performance throughout the game, playing 40 minutes and recording 18 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals.
Thompson is one of the best perimeter defenders this year and has the ability to defend both positions in the backcourt. It was a slow start for Thompson, but once the game slowed down and he found his rhythm, he was very productive. Thompson averaged 15.8 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the final four games of the season.
Amen Thompson achieves first career triple-double
18 points
11 rebounds
10 assists
3 blocks
3 steal
89% shooting16.6 PTS, 12 REB, 6.7 AST in last 3 gamespic.twitter.com/f8ntiNTAVW
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 14, 2024
Draft slot: No.18
Previous rank: Four
Jaquez ended the regular season with a season-high two-game winning streak against the Raptors. In his first game, Jaquez scored 20 points (2-of-4 shooting) and nine assists, serving as an on-ball guard to support his teammates. In the final game of the regular season, Jaquez had 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and three blocks. Jaquez is one of the oldest rookies this season, having played four years at UCLA, which has been very helpful in his adjustment to the NBA.
“My teammates as rookies always say, “You're going to take over from your team.'' They made it to the Finals last year and their job is to try and get back,'' Jaquez said. he told Yahoo Sports in May. “So I’m just trying to take that and do whatever I can to stay on top and get back to the finals and win.”
Draft slot: No.19
Previous rank: 6
Podzemski is the only rookie with over 250 assists and 350 rebounds, making him an integral part of the Warriors. He is one of the best rebounding guards in the rookie class and is strong with the ball in his hands. Podzemski averaged 9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in April, and the Warriors finished the regular season with a 6-2 record.
Draft slot: No.16
Previous rank: Five
It's clear the Jazz have their full attention on George, and he really showed his versatility throughout the season. Initially, he was more of a facilitator, but by the end of the season he took on a role more like a scoring guard. His 3-point shot has improved, making him more than a catch-and-shoot threat behind the arc. George finished his rookie year with 21 points (5-of-6 3-pointers) and four assists in Sunday's loss to the Warriors.
Draft slot: No.45
Previous rank: Honorable mention
There's always a sleeper in the second round of the NBA Draft, but the Grizzlies got a steal in a 6-9 forward. Jackson finished his outstanding rookie season with a season-high 44 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to the Nuggets, setting a franchise record for most points scored by a rookie. Jackson is one of the youngest rookies in the class, and the reps he has gotten this year have accelerated his development.
draft slot:No.12
previous rank:8
Luka Doncic ranks third in assists, but a lot of that has to do with the players he passes to. Lively has been very good out of the pick-and-roll along with Doncic and Kyrie Irving. His footwork near the rim and the way he catches passes in traffic sets him apart from other young bigs in the league. Lively finished the regular season averaging 8.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in 23.5 minutes.
Draft slot: No.3
Previous rank: No rank
The Trail Blazers were in rebuilding mode and were patient as their point guard adjusted to the pace and spacing of the NBA. If the final game of the season is any indication of the direction of his career, Henderson's future could be bright. He scored 30 points and seven assists, scoring in a variety of ways. In the previous two games, Henderson had a double-double in points and assists, and in April he averaged 19.4 points and 9.7 assists.
