NBA rookie check-in: You-know-who, Chet Holmgren separate from impressive pack

One month into the NBA season, two rookies have separated themselves from the rest of the first-year players. That's an impressive feat because a lot of rookies have impressed already. Let's check in on some of the rooks who are playing as well as we expected and a few who have played better than anyone predicted.

(Note: All statistics through Thursday.)

Franchise-changers

Victor Wembanyama, forward, San Antonio Spurs: Wemby hasn't been the immediate MVP candidate that many folks (perhaps unfairly) predicted him to be. However, he has played well enough for us to remain confident he will reach that ceiling —and soon. Defensively, he didn't need much time to adjust. He's third in blocks per game (2.6) behind elite rim protectors Anthony Davis and Brook Lopez.

Offensively, he's been brilliant in spurts — his 38-point masterpiece in November was cathartic for some — but has struggled to find consistency, which might have something to do with how he's being used. Wemby is in the 15th percentile among centers in shot frequency at the rim. He's also 7-foot-4. He should just stand under the hoop and put the ball in it. That's barely a joke. 

Chet Holmgren, center, Oklahoma City Thunder: The Holmgren hype train died down a bit after he missed all of last season with a broken foot. Then Wembanyama stole his spotlight in the "really tall rookie" discussion, but OKC's young center is carving out a legitimate ROY case for himself. 

Averaging 17.1 points, 8.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and shooting 43.4% from deep, Holmgren looked comfortable as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's running mate from the first game. Plus, he's not posting big stats on a bad team  — OKC has won six straight games. 

Ausar Thompson, forward, Detroit Pistons: It's a pretty good signifier of long-term success when a rookie is truly elite on either side of the ball from the moment he enters the NBA. Thompson is already elite defensively. He is blocking 1.7 shots per game and averaging 1.1 steals, and he's 13th in the NBA in rebounds (10.1) ... as a 6-foot-7 forward. Saying his jumper is even a "work in progress" is generous because it's a long way from being viable. Even without it, Thompson is thriving.

Brandon Miller, small forward, Charlotte Hornets: The early returns on Miller have been good enough that even the most audacious comparisons he received as a prospect — ahem, Paul George —  seem to be within reach. Miller is averaging 13.7 points and shooting 46% from the field. His three-point shooting, which is potentially his best skill, hasn't even come around yet (33.9%).

Contributing faster than expected

Dereck Lively II, center, Dallas Mavericks: One of the biggest "feet to the fire" rookies, Lively II was always going to get minutes this season, mostly due to Dallas' lack of frontcourt depth. Lively II has impressed as a lob threat, rebounder and rim-runner — the exact archetype Dallas needed at center. His individual rim protection hasn't translated to team defense — Dallas is 26th in defensive rating, per StatMuse — but Lively appears to be the long-term solution in the middle for Dallas.

Cason Wallace, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren isn't the only Thunder rookie who is contributing. Wallace, a 6-foot-4 rookie from Kentucky, was brought in for his defensive abilities (which he has certainly flashed throughout November), but he's also shooting 53.8% from deep, which isn't sustainable but is impressive nonetheless.

Jordan Hawkins, guard, New Orleans Pelicans: The NCAA Tournament can be a huge stock boost for NBA Draft prospects, and Hawkins did himself plenty of favors during Connecticut's championship run last season. In New Orleans, he's getting serious playing time (29 MPG) due to necessity (CJ McCollum's injury) and his solid play (35.4% from deep on 7.5 attempts per game). 

Anthony Black, guard, Orlando Magic: A perfect guard complement to Orlando's big core, Black has defensive awareness miles ahead of other rookies. He has filled in for Markelle Fultz seamlessly, and when his offensive creation ability starts to pop, Black will be yet another young weapon for Orlando.

Coming out of nowhere

Craig Porter Jr., guard, Cleveland Cavaliers: Three years ago, Porter Jr was playing basketball at Vincennes University in Indiana. Now he's a pretty important part of a Cleveland team that desperately needed solid point guard play in the second unit. He has scored in double figures in four straight games, including a career-high 21 points in an impressive win against the Denver Nuggets.

Brandin Podziemski, guard, Golden State Warriors: A top-20 pick can't really come out of nowhere, but the 20-year-old from Santa Clara University is contributing more early in his rookie season than Golden State could have hoped for. Podziemski (7.0 PPG) plays with the confidence of a 10-year vet, and he has injected energy into the Dubs' second unit.