The NBA's 2023-24 season culminates in All-Star Weekend, and the first half of the season has come to an end and entered a short break. Looking back on the journey of the first half, the NBA in the alternation of the old and the new has not yet found the real best person in Janduku, Embiid, Alexander, Jokic and other top ten players in the half, the Timberwolves and the Thunder have become the two most eye-catching upstart teams, Wembanyama and Holmgren compete for the best rookie, who will carry the banner of the NBA's replacement of the old and the new?
Old and new: The NBA has yet to find the real man of Janduku
The NBA is facing a transition period of alternating between the old and the new, there is no super team in the NBA this season, the Celtics, Bucks, Cavaliers, 76ers (when Embiid is not injured), etc., the Timberwolves, Thunder, Clippers, Nuggets, etc. in the West, all show varying degrees of outstanding strength, but no team has the dominance at a glance.
It's just that in terms of stars, James is 39 years old and has become the oldest player in the league this season, and Durant and Curry are also 35 years old, both of whom are approaching the "twilight period" of their careers. Even if Janduku is still in great form, they are undoubtedly no longer the best top three players in the league, and they are hardly even the best top five.
In this year's All-Star Game, Janduku was on the same team for the first time in history, but the three combined only 42 points, which was not even as good as Towns's 50 points. Janduku is interested in taking a back seat to allow younger players to perform, but it is clear that the league has yet to find a real new face, and who will be the next face of the league? Doncic? Alexander? Tatum? Haliburton? Edwards? ......It takes time to give an answer.
Inventory of the top 10 players in the half:Embiid, Alexander, Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Doncic, Durant, Leonard, Tatum, Haliburton, Fox.
Although Embiid has been disqualified from the major awards this season due to a serious injury, there is no doubt that he was the best player in the first half of the season. Embiid is averaging 35 per game this season3 points 113 rebounds and 57 assists, as well as 70 points in a single game and 30+ in 22 consecutive games, such a performance is definitely No. in the middle of the season1.
Alexander led the rise of the Thunder, the performance of superstars such as Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Doncic, and Durant was as stable as ever, Leonard rarely maintained a high attendance and performed well, and the new generation such as Haliburton and Fox also performed extremely eye-catching.
The Timberwolves and the Thunder are two upstart teams
The two teams competing for the first place in the West this season are mainly the Timberwolves and the Thunder, especially the Timberwolves who have long dominated the first place in the West. Although the Timberwolves qualified for the playoffs last season, they unfortunately missed the first round, and this season the Timberwolves continue to metamorphose and upgrade, which shows that they are expected to go far this season.
As for the Thunder, after rebuilding and hoarding young talents for several consecutive years, Alexander has been among the MVP competition this season, with Holmgren's eye-catching performance, as well as young talents such as Jalen and Giddey, making the Thunder also a disruptive youth army team that cannot be ignored in the West.
Wembanyama and Holmgren are two talented rookies
There is no doubt that this season's rookie of the year race is only between Wembanyama and Holmgren, and the rest of the rookies are too far apart from them.
It's just that Wembanyama and Holmgren are two extremes, and Wembanyama's Spurs have started a crazy swing mode, and they are 11-44 and firmly at the bottom of the West. However, Wembanyama has been heroic, averaging less than 30 minutes per game and contributing 206 points 101 rebound 31 assist 31 cap 11 steal, became the league's block king, and a block triple-double, which is unique among rookies in terms of data.
As for Holmgren, he is slightly inferior in stats, averaging 167 points 75 rebounds and 27 assists 26 blocks, but helped the Thunder achieve a 37-17 record and rank second in the West, just 1 short of the Timberwolves at the top of the West5 wins, 26 ahead of Spurs5 wins.
In this case, the battle for the best rookie will only arise between Wembanyama and Holmgren, and whether the statistics or the results are important will be the key factors that will determine the award.
Wen drunk, lying down, floating).