Does Cameron Boozer Have the Early Rookie of the Year Edge Over Yaxel Lendeborg?

Memphis Grizzlies fans would love to see Cameron Boozer named the NBA Rookie of the Year by the end of the year. Does he currently hold the advantage over the Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg?

First, a major caveat: It’s early. If the Sacramento Kings start winning games, guard Darius Acuff Jr.’s monstrous statistical production could put him in the lead. Washington Wizards wing AJ Dybantsa, the first overall pick, has been great in the three games he’s suited up for since missing the first four with a sprained left ankle. He scored 19, 17, and 21 points. Someone else could come out of left field.

Still, as of now, it’s a two-man race. Either Boozer or Lendeborg would be named the Rookie of the Year if the season ended today. So, we go back to the question:

Who has the edge?

Let’s compare the two rookie forwards to date.

Boozer is averaging 17.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game with a 55.4 True Shooting % (TS%) and 2.9 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) in seven games. He had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists in Monday’s 135-134 overtime loss to New Orleans. Lendeborg is averaging 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists with a 63.8 TS% and 1.8 BPM in eight games. His 37 points against the Clippers on Sunday were the most by a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry scored 42 in 2010.

That looks like a very narrow statistical edge for Lendeborg. Still, voters are likely to factor team success into their thinking. As of now, the Grizzlies are 6-1, while the Warriors are 5-3.

So if the season ended today, the award would be Boozer’s to lose.

The award may be Boozer’s to lose, but it’s far from a foregone conclusion.

Arguably, his TS% is misleading. Boozer is shooting a weak 38.5% from the field. His overall efficiency is bolstered by shooting 37.2% from three-point range on a solid 6.1 three-point attempts per game, and by making 94.4% of his free throws. If his three-point accuracy drops before his two-point efficiency rises, he’ll be in “very inefficient” territory before long.

There are also valid concerns about the Grizzlies’ team success. Their 6-1 start has been impressive, but it’s still only seven games. This team didn’t expect to be so successful in 2026-27, and it’s possible that they’ll regress to the mean before long.

Ultimately, it’s somewhat inconsequential. Lendeborg has the advantage of being 24. At 19, Boozer is considerably younger. Lendeborg is outstanding, but Boozer’s production is more meaningful.

Still, it would be fun for Grizzlies fans if Boozer were the Rookie of the Year. It’s been a rough couple of seasons for this team, and 2026-27 has been exciting. This could be a delicious cherry on top of what could be a wonderful season:

But don’t expect Lendeborg to let it happen easily.