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Predicting the top 5 rookies heading into the 2023–24 NBA season

By Donald Hamilton

HENDERSON, NEVADA - OCTOBER 04: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 and Scoot Henderson #0 of G League Ignite shake hands after their exhibition game at The Dollar Loan Center on October 04, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. Ignite defeated Metropolitans 92 122-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA - OCTOBER 04: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 and Scoot Henderson #0 of G League Ignite shake hands after their exhibition game at The Dollar Loan Center on October 04, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. Ignite defeated Metropolitans 92 122-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports). /

3. Chet Holmgren, Power Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder

Surprise! Did y’all forget about “The Unicorn”?

Before all the hype and praise on Wembanyama from this year’s draft class as something we’ve never seen before, there was another 7-footer making noise at Gonzaga in 2021-22, and that is 7’1 forward Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren missed all of what would’ve been his initial rookie season this past year after suffering a lisfranc fracture in his right foot at the Drew League last summer off a drive by LeBron James where he tried contesting his shot and landed wrong.

Despite missing all of this past season, Holmgren has supposedly put it to good measure by reportedly putting on 13 lbs of muscle to go from 195 lbs to 208 lbs which will do him wonders to better handle the rigors of NBA physicality.

Holmgren is unique like Wembanyama in the sense that he’s a 7-foot-plus human who has the handles of a guard (played guard before his massive growth spurt growing up), is a defensive anchor who gobbles up shots as a ferocious shot-blocker, great help side defender, can shoot the ball well from deep, and create his own shot off the bounce at a high level.

The Thunder have their primary scoring option in  Canadian star guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s coming off an All-NBA Second Team selection after averaging over 30 points per game last season. They also have other great young pieces in Australian guard Josh Giddey and All-Rookie First Team selection Jalen Williams.

Holmgren showed a lot of promise last year at the Summer League that included a game that saw him reject six shots, showing his elite defensive instincts and the kind of impact he can make immediately with his size and length.

He won’t be the primary or even secondary scorer to start off his career, but, with his diverse talents all over the floor, I expect him to be in the running for Rookie of the Year as a top three option on his team and his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways.