With Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain officially ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, he’s essentially eliminated from winning the Rookie of the Year award.
Unlike the Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player or Defensive Player of the Year award, there’s no 65-game minimum that McCain must reach. In fact, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun was allowed to remain the MIP conversation last season despite playing under 65 games. However, though McCain was the favorite to secure Rookie of the Year honors prior to his injury, his play wasn’t quite spectacular enough for him to have been considered the runaway winner.
Sixers’ Joel Embiid Chimes In On Rookie Of The Year Race Amid Jared McCain’s Injury
As was expected, McCain has seen multiple draft classmates vying for his spot as the ROY favorite.
Zach Edey is just one of the Memphis Grizzlies’ players with a legitimate shot at that title. Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr was the latest favorite in NBA.com’s Rookie of the Year ladder. For awhile there, it even seemed like Los Angeles Lakers wing Dalton Knecht could win it.
Overshadowed the glamour of those highly-touted rookies has been New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi. In fact, Sixers center Joel Embiid believes Missi “has a pretty good chance” to win ROY.
Even he, a league MVP, never won that award.
An Exclusive Group
“…I’m happy for him,” Embiid tells Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “He has a chance to be really good. Right now, he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. But I would also hope that he keeps working on his game because I think there’s way more to come.
“He also has a pretty good chance of also winning that award, Rookie the Year. I’m rooting for him.”
With Embiid and McCain wearing the same jersey, this might rub some people the wrong way. However, Embiid and Missi share roots that go much deeper. The two giants are both Cameroonian, Embiid born in Yaoundé and Missi in Belgium.
That puts them in a very exclusive group.
Counting Lakers center Christian Koloko, Toronto Raptors center Ulrich Chomche, and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, there are just five active NBA players who identify as Cameroonian.
How can you not be romantic about basketball?
Yves Missi went from playing on dirt courts in Cameroon to a Top 3 NBA rookie. No world-class training facilities… just heart, faith & desire
pic.twitter.com/44ffhlePfy
— Kicks (@kicks) December 10, 2024
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Given that Cameroon has suffered from extreme economic hardship, it makes their ability to reach the NBA that much more impressive.
A Burgeoning Apprenticeship
So far this season, Missi is averaging 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. His game isn’t really flashy but there’s plenty of substance. Drafted by a team that wanted an athletic rim-protector, he’s been just that.
Yves Missi fears nobody. pic.twitter.com/Q6JvnszDO5
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 11, 2025
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At the other end, his explosiveness helps him be a lob threat. However, he’s also shown a knack for finishing under the rim. The Pelicans aren’t going to treat him like Anthony Davis but he’s been underrated as a scoring threat.
How about Yves Missi? 12 PTS on 5/8 FG, 7 REB, 3 BLK in his NBA debut! pic.twitter.com/rgosykOGCS
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) October 24, 2024
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As Embiid says though, it’ll be nice to see him add more to his game. With that in mind, the 30-year-old could become one of Missi’s tutors. He’s gotten off to a rough start this season but is still arguably the most skilled scorer at his position.
Who better for Missi to learn from?
Who better for Embiid to teach in an effort to usher in the next era of great African players?
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