5 players who will challenge Victor Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year

Rookie of the Year: F Emoni Bates, Cleveland Cavaliers

Let’s stretch into the deep sleeper pool for the last competitor to Wembanyama’s pre-ordained crown. Then again, it’s not so far-fetched to think that one of the former top prospects in the country could vie for Rookie of the Year.

The Emoni Bates story is well-documented. He emerged as a top recruit in the country and committed to Michigan State, only to end up at Memphis for a season. That year went disastrously, leading Bates to transfer to Eastern Michigan, though he faced gun charges (ultimately dropped) before he even played a game for the Eagles.

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Bates in the middle of the second round and have since signed him to a two-way deal. It’s going to be difficult for him to hit the games threshold unless he gets his contract converted early in the year.

That’s not out of the realm of possibility for the 19-year-old wing, who has been showing flashes of what he can do during the Summer League.

The sample size is small, but Bates averaged 16.3 points per game in the first three Summer League contests he played in. He had little issue creating his own shot, shooting 41 percent from the field, including 38 percent from three.

He’s also been a revelation on the defensive end, pacing his teammates in steals and coming in the runner-up position of blocks. It’s the kind of two-way play the Cavs can only dream of for a player on a two-way deal.

It would take somewhat of a miracle for Emoni Bates to contend for Rookie of the Year. But don’t say you weren’t warned if the Cleveland Cavaliers rookie comes up aces in the race against Victor Wembanyama.