NBA Rookie of the Year: 'Inside the NBA' Crew Weighs In on Chet vs. Wemby

While the NFL playoffs are in full swing, they're not the only sports league currently in action. In the NBA, teams are approaching the midway point of the season; that means it's time to assess some end-of-season predictions. Take the Rookie of the Year race, for example.

There isn't always drama there—draft classes aren't consistent, and sometimes a player like Paolo Banchero is clearly ahead of the pack—this year is a bit different. We've got a two-horse race with phenom Victor Wembanyama duking it out with Chet Holmgren, who missed the entire 2022-23 campaign.

With that in mind, the Inside the NBA crew weighed in on their current pick for the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. And, as long-time viewers will know, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley are never shy about sharing their opinions.

Let's roll the tape.

Wembanyama Received 2 ROY Endorsements

End-of-season awards can seem simple, but there's often plenty of room for debate. When you're voting for MVP or Rookie of the Year, for example, do you go purely by stats? Or do you try to take other factors, like the rest of the roster and overall record, into consideration?

On Inside the NBA, the crew tried to speak to that regarding the Rookie of the Year race between Wembanyama and Holmgren.

Sir Charles, playing the role of facilitator, asked Kenny and Shaq for their current pick. Smith started things off.

"I would have to say, you know, Chet is playing great," the former guard began. "But I would still have to say Wembanyama because Wembanyama is the first option."

At that point, O'Neal interjected to ask if Smith was using record or stats to make his argument.

"I'm going by both," he then continued. "So, I move, I think that Chet Holmgren because of the record and the team he's on, he's having impactful minutes. But in terms of an individual talent, I still put Wembanyama slightly ahead."

But what about the Diesel, who has never been shy about critiquing big men over the years?

"It's a single award. We have this conversation every, every MVP voting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander better be in the MVP talks," O'Neal added. "But [Rookie of the Year] has to go to Victor. Has to go to Victor. You know, team-wise, of course, you know, Chet's playing on a great team. Spurs are not great. But individual, it's a slight edge to Victor."

Things then turned back to Barkley, who asked the original question. Smith asked him if Wembanyama would make Oklahoma City better if he were on their roster.

"I like Chet," Chuck began. "I think they'd be better cause he's playing with better players."

"So, to me, that's separated it," Smith replied.

NBA Rookie of the Year: What Do the Stats Say?

With all of that being said, how do the two big men compare in terms of numbers?

Starting with Wembanyama, since he was the TNT favorite, he's averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.1 blocks in 35 appearances. The rookie is averaging 28.5 minutes of action per game, which also has to be weighted into his production.

Shifting over to Holmgren, the OKC man has suited up for 41 games and averages 30.0 minutes of playing time. He's currently posting 17.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per outing.

Beyond that, there's a clear disparity between their respective teams. Despite the addition of Wemby, the Spurs are sitting in the Western Conference cellar with a 7-33 record. Holmgren's Thunder, on the other hand, are sitting in second place in the West at 28-13; they've been led by Gilgeous-Alexander who, as Shaq noted, has played his way into the MVP consideration.

Betting Odds Favor Holmgren

Now that we've covered the TNT panel and the statistics, there's a third perspective to consider: the bookmakers. And if you trust their numbers, Holmgren is the leader in the clubhouse.

According to the odds pulled by Covers.com, the OKC center is the Rookie of the Year favorite with DraftKings, FanDuel and Bet365.

It goes without saying that those odds can change, especially if there's a major injury that rules someone out for an extended stretch. And, when it comes to awards like MVP and Rookie of the Year, the narrative is strong. If Wemby, for example, leads the Spurs on a second-half winning streak, things could tilt in his favor.

At this point, though, it looks like the Rookie of the Year race will remain competitive as we pass the halfway pole and head for the homestretch. And from a viewing perspective, that's a positive.