NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY) 2024: Top 5 candidates ft Victor Wembanyama (Week 17)
With the stretch run of the 2023-24 season in full throttle, the NBA Rookie of the Year race is also getting more exciting. Five first-year players led by Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have grabbed a stranglehold of the contest. While the two have had an ironclad hold of the first and second spots, the next three have slightly varied for Week 17.
The quintet on the list all appeared in last week’s All-Star weekend. While they mostly impressed, it has been their play in competitive games that has made basketball fans continuously check on their performances.
Top-five contenders for the NBA Rookie of the Year award for week 17
#5 Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Last week: Games played 4 games (3-1)
- Season: 50
- Last week: 9.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.3 APG
- Season: 12.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.6 APG and 1.1 SPG
Jaime Jaquez Jr. hasn’t rediscovered the form that made him turn heads in December as a top NBA Rookie of the Year contender. Since returning from a groin injury and the acquisition of Terry Rozier, the high-leaping rookie has struggled a bit. Rozier has not been available for over a week now but Jaquez hasn’t stepped up like many expected him to do.
Maybe he will be much better in the coming days but for Week 17, he is fifth in the NBA Rookie of the Year ladder.
#4 Brandon Miller
- Last week: Games played: 4 (3-1)
- Season: 50
- Last week: 17.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 3.8 APG
- Season: 16.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 2.4 APG
Brandon Miller could have easily resumed his Week 16 rank but for the updated NBA Rookie of the Year ladder, he is in fourth spot. He has largely played the same way, even helping the Charlotte Hornets to a 3-1 record, but Brandin Podziemski has just been a tad more impactful.
Since getting bigger roles for the Hornets, Miller has responded. Without LaMelo Ball and following the separate trades of Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward, the former Alabama star has been more decisive. He is showing why he deserves the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft with the way he has been playing.