My NBA Awards ballot: picking every NBA award for the 2023-24 season
By Ben Handler
Rookie of the Year
This was another easy one, because despite strong competition, Victor Wembanyama is just on another level from other rookies, and could even make a case for an All-NBA team. In any other year, Chet Holmgren of the Thunder would have a great case, and likely be a runaway winner.
Holmgren missed all of last year with an injury, but returned and played all 82 games this season, anchoring a top five defense while being a key offensive contriubtor on the team with the second best record in the entire NBA.
Brandon Miller didn’t have great efficiency numbers playing for a dreadful Hornets team, but he shined brightly nonetheless and looks like a star in the making. Jaime Jacquez Jr., Keyonte George, Amen Thompson, and Brandin Podziemski all had nice moments and look like promising players.
But this one is all about Wemby. The Spurs big man did things on boht ends of the floor that have never been seen before, and made them look routine. He was as hyped a prospect as we’ve seen in 20 years and he somehow surpassed all the hype. After just one season it’s clear what the hype was about and Wemby looks every bit the generational player that scouts hoped he would be.