Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II and Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Chet Holmgren are two rookies who have made an immediate impact on their respective NBA teams.
The two players will face off in the Western Conference semifinals, with Game 1 taking place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City tomorrow.
Ahead of the game, Lively was asked about Holmgren, who is among the three finalists to win the Rookie of the Year award.
“He’s a great player… Try to be able to get him off of his spots, try to make him uncomfortable,” Lively said about the upcoming challenge of playing against Holmgren, via ClutchPoints.
22-year-old Holmgren is averaging 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 32.3 minutes per game in his first NBA playoffs.
Lively’s, 20, numbers are more modest – 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game.
