Wemby and Chet lead the league in blocks

[UglyBugBall]

Correct. You did. So they are both 1st year rookies.

I’m glad we came to this conclusion together

So the kid that spent a year in school, never took the tests, and then redid the class next year and acted the tests didn't have any advantage? Got it

And? Wemby was an "Honor Role" student who transferred schools. Therefor, he isn't a "rookie" either.

More like Wemby went from Catholic school in Iowa to high school in London. Chet literally went to the same school he took the test in.

[slick_watts]

chet's had a few bumps in the road but his rookie season is still among the best in the last twenty years. maybe top 10? obviously wemby just casts a shadow over him, and that might make him a bit underrated around here.

[JDR720]

So the kid that spent a year in school, never took the tests, and then redid the class next year and acted the tests didn't have any advantage? Got it

And? Wemby was an "Honor Role" student who transferred schools. Therefor, he isn't a "rookie" either.

More like Wemby went from Catholic school in Iowa to high school in London. Chet literally went to the same school he took the test in.

But Chet didn't take the test last year, he missed class because he was out sick the entire year. So, therefor, he got held back a grade. So.. he's freshmen still this year.

[reload141]

So the kid that spent a year in school, never took the tests, and then redid the class next year and acted the tests didn't have any advantage? Got it

And? Wemby was an "Honor Role" student who transferred schools. Therefor, he isn't a "rookie" either.

More like Wemby went from Catholic school in Iowa to high school in London. Chet literally went to the same school he took the test in.

At least you tried. Points for trying!

[LAvision]

People really underestimate the huge advantage you have sitting out a whole season in the nba as a rookie.

[maradro]

Difference between 1st and 2nd: 64
Difference between 2nd and 3rd: 1

Seems a little silly to say they lead together, but sure technically that's right

[Xatticus]

Do you mean it's the first time a rookie and second year player has lead the league in blocks?

Imagine you're in first grade of high school. You sat in on every class, but weren't officially enrolled, so you got to skip all the tests. You just sat, and learned by watching and listening for the entire year. Next year you officially enroll, redo the class and get straight A's on every test. Are you way smarter than the first year kid who got a B?

I love when people post this salt-laden crap. It’s such a stupid argument.

[YogurtProducer]

People really underestimate the huge advantage you have sitting out a whole season in the nba as a rookie.

Agreed. It is a huge advantage as you get to adapt to the NBA lifestyle a year before you actually have to play and perform.

IDC if he is called a rookie, but it is an obvious advantage.

[Xatticus]

People really underestimate the huge advantage you have sitting out a whole season in the nba as a rookie.

People really underestimate the huge advantage you have of playing basketball for a whole year versus not playing basketball while rehabbing a surgically-repaired foot.

When was the last time a team drafted a player and had them sit out for their rookie season to confer this advantage? The thing is… if your argument held water, we’d see 2nd-year players routinely doing what Chet is doing.

[Patches Perry]

You should only count as a rookie if you've literally never played basketball before. If you've played basketball before, that's a huge advantage in your "rookie" season and taints it to be honest.

[Myth]

Do you mean it's the first time a rookie and second year player has lead the league in blocks?

Imagine you're in first grade of high school. You sat in on every class, but weren't officially enrolled, so you got to skip all the tests. You just sat, and learned by watching and listening for the entire year. Next year you officially enroll, redo the class and get straight A's on every test. Are you way smarter than the first year kid who got a B?

Wemby had 3-4.years of pro European experience before this season. Playing against men.

You think that's comparable to guys who did 2-3 years high school and 1 of college?


Rookie season is your first sea playing and we don't care what you did before then.

Did Wemby learn all the plays of the Spurs in Europe? Did he learn what it's like to play 82 games a seaosn in different timezones? Did he learn his teammates tendencies, where they like the ball, how they play and how he could fit in? Did Poppovic give him the gameplan and tell him what he wanted him to work on? Did he get the Spurs trainers on staff?

So if Chet was traded before the season he would be a rookie, but because he was around the team last year he is not?

[dkb964]

People really underestimate the huge advantage you have sitting out a whole season in the nba as a rookie.

Agreed. It is a huge advantage as you get to adapt to the NBA lifestyle a year before you actually have to play and perform.

IDC if he is called a rookie, but it is an obvious advantage.

If a players gets injuried and has to sit out their rookie season it is a bummer for sure. They still were on an NBA roster for an entire season. I do not understand how they classify as a rookie when they are coming into their 2nd season. It just does not make any sense to me.

[Myth]

Do you mean it's the first time a rookie and second year player has lead the league in blocks?

Imagine you're in first grade of high school. You sat in on every class, but weren't officially enrolled, so you got to skip all the tests. You just sat, and learned by watching and listening for the entire year. Next year you officially enroll, redo the class and get straight A's on every test. Are you way smarter than the first year kid who got a B?

I dunno about who’s smarter but, you’d definitely be called a freshman, not a sophomore. So this analogy is pretty terrible for your point

On top of that, practicing tests have proven to make you better at taking tests. A kid sitting in class without the habits and push to perform may struggle to get back in the swing of things after a year.

[UglyBugBall]

And? Wemby was an "Honor Role" student who transferred schools. Therefor, he isn't a "rookie" either.

More like Wemby went from Catholic school in Iowa to high school in London. Chet literally went to the same school he took the test in.

But Chet didn't take the test last year, he missed class because he was out sick the entire year. So, therefor, he got held back a grade. So.. he's freshmen still this year.

But he sat in on every class and listened for a whole year. He already knew the material he'd be tested on next year.

[BlzMwt]

The first time in NBA history two rookies lead the league in total blocks. Complete insanity.

Best rookie class we’ve seen in decades.

Sorry OP, thread got derailed hard.

I'm curious as to where these two will rank in terms of all time defenders when it's all said and done.

Regardless of "rookie" or not, it's been awesome to watch them all season long. Hopefully these stupid arguments subside once Wemby gets ROY and we can just appreciate these guys for the players they are

[art_tatum]

I provided a very clear and logical argument. You provided no counter argument. So you basically agree with me, you're just too emotional to admit it.

Sitting out a season and referencing that isn’t a “very clear and logical argument”

You’re basing your whole argument not on facts, just based around what you actually think is “logical”

Chet didn’t play.

They both had a “proper” amazing rookie season with Wemby doing it better, what’s wrong with that?

He didn't play. My analogy covered that. It's the same as sitting in on a class but never taking the tests. I already covered this.

Just because you made an analogy doesn't make it valid in any way. It's actually a flawed analogy.

If you've actually played basketball in any competitive level, or any sport, you would know that playing time is far more advantageous to your development. Sure sitting and watching the team learning plays, getting used to the nba travel helps, but it comes NO WHERE close to actually playing in real games.
You can learn plays quickly, hell 99% of plays are public knowledge if you care to look it up, you can learn them online through analysis videos of the spurs, but you can't "get used to your teammates tendencies" or the nba without actual game speed. Any competitive player would tell you they would rather have a year in Europe playing than sitting a whole year watching the nba from the bench.

Imo a 23 year old rookie vs a 19 year old rookie on average are way more different in readiness than an 20 yr old who sat out a year of the nba due to injury.

[Anticon]

Chet would be finishing his third year in college now; sure he isn't a pure rookie but it's not like the guy is 24.

[bdp31770]

Do you mean it's the first time a rookie and second year player has lead the league in blocks?

Imagine you're in first grade of high school. You sat in on every class, but weren't officially enrolled, so you got to skip all the tests. You just sat, and learned by watching and listening for the entire year. Next year you officially enroll, redo the class and get straight A's on every test. Are you way smarter than the first year kid who got a B?

Oh… you’re “that” guy.

Please stop posting

Amen.

[zzaj]

I'm fine with calling them both rookies, but pretending Chet didn't have a leg up on Wemby coming into this season is just kinda silly. Almost every rookie talks about the difficult adjustment to 82 games and travel in their first year exit interviews. Chet had a year of experiencing that and Wemby didn't--plain and simple.

But to the OP's point, it IS amazing that two rookies share that honor. The overall, baseline level of talent in the league just continues to grow.

[SweaterBae]

What year of his contract is Chet in?