Could Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren Be Co-ROY

Over the course of the NBA's 75+ years as a professional sports league, we have seen two players named Rookie of the Year in three different years. Most recently, Elton Brand and Steve Francis won the award jointly in 2000. They both finished with 58 votes for the award, despite Francis leading his team to nearly 20 more wins than Brand. This just goes to show that winning games sometimes isn't the most crucial aspect of winning Rookie of the Year.

The second players to ever win Co-Rookie of the Year were Jason Kidd and Grant Hill in 1995 after both finishing with 43 votes. Both players shattered expectations at their respective positions and helped churn out more wins than the previous year for their teams. Hill was the more hyped prospect whereas Kidd exceeded any expectations set on him, which could point to why they won the award jointly.

The first two players to ever win Co-Rookie of the Year in NBA history came in 1971. Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie both finished with 36 total votes. Interestingly enough, Pete Maravich finished with 21 votes. This could've been the first year we saw three people tied for first, and as there is no precedent we have no idea what would've happen if so were to be the case.

• Season Averages: 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Odds To Win ROY: -360 (Per DraftKings)

I'm not sure if there has ever been an NBA prospect with the type of hype and expectations around them like Victor Wembanyama, who has exceeded those expectations right out the gate. Wemby was drafted first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2023 after going increasingly viral winning numerous awards in the French professional league.

Wemby is a 7'4" center who can move and handle the ball like a small forward. His ability to not only pull up from three, but also take two steps and be at the basket makes him arguable one of the toughest guards in NBA history. Not to mention he is making a legitimate impact on the defense end every night. If Wemby can stay healthy and continue putting up these numbers, there should be no Co-ROY.

• Season Averages: 17.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists
• Odds To Win ROY: +500

There has been immense hype around Chet Holmgren ever since a video of him crossing up Stephen Curry at a camp went viral some years ago. Now, the former Gonzaga star is dominating the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being drafted second overall in 2022. An injury in preseason would sideline him for the entirety of his rookie year, making this his first eligible year to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Chet is lagging in the slightest margin behind Wemby when looking at points and rebounds, but moth have been making a clear and definitive impact on their teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder are clearly a better team with Chet Holmgren, and that's really all you can ask for in a rookie. If Chet can really turn it up and have a couple standout games, that +500 could be looking a lot shorter of odds come end of the season.