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The recently concluded NBA Summer League gave fans a glimpse of the future. A good chunk of the rookies showed out and gave their teams plenty to be excited about. Naturally, that also kicked off the first Rookie of the Year discussions well before opening night.
For Robert Horry, there isn’t much of a debate. He already has two frontrunners for the award, and his picks may catch some fans off guard.
It’s all about the situation
Most NBA fans agree that the 2026 rookie class may be the best one in recent memory. The draft batch is deep, with multiple franchise cornerstone possibilities and a handful of potential perennial All-Stars down the road.
Of course, the debate at the top until the day of the draft was AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. Many experts believe Dybantsa’s positional versatility on both ends gives him the edge over DP. Meanwhile, a sizeable share of pundits value Peterson’s offensive talent (and substantial defensive upside) as the real deal.
Horry, however, was very specific about his ROY picks. He maintains that neither Dybantsa nor Peterson will be as productive as fans and analysts expect because of their circumstances. On the other hand, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson, the No. 3 and 4 picks, respectively, have the runway all for themselves.
“My pick is Boozer because when you think about Dybantsa, where is he?” the seven-time NBA champ said on the “Big Shot Bob” podcast. “(Trae Young and Anthony Davis in Washington), that’s going to cut into his play. Now, you go over here to Peterson. He got guys around him that cut into his play. The only guy that that does not have anybody in his way of him doing work is Boozer.”
When co-host Brandon Harper mentioned Wilson also has that same opportunity in Chicago, Horry did not hesitate to include the UNC product in the discussion.
“I’m putting Boozer just a little ahead of Caleb. Those two other picks ahead, they are going into a situation where they can win immediately because you got vets who are f---ing good. These other two are going in a situation where they’re like, ‘Am I the best player on this team? I might be the best player on this team,’” added Horry.
Boozer flexed his all-around skills in the SL, averaging 18 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Duke product led the team all the way to a runner-up finish, losing to the Golden State Warriors, 94-90, in the finals.
Meanwhile, Wilson impressed with his athleticism on defense and a surprisingly sweet stroke from deep. Caleb averaged nearly 24 points shooting over 41 percent from downtown, while adding 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals to the picture.
Too early to tell
Horry’s wealth of experience behind his opinion undoubtedly carries weight. While he does have a point, the Dybantsa and Peterson situations are not as tight as he made them out to be.
For instance, the Washington Wizards really have no other starting-caliber forwards except Alex Sarr. If they plan on starting Sarr and Anthony Davis together, Dybantsa could simply slide into the other forward spot. Trae Young could eat into his touches, but as a two-time assists leader, he will make AJ’s job easier on the creation end.
The same goes for Peterson. Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey are good, but they haven’t proven anything yet. If DP shows he could contribute to winning more than any of the holdovers, he also has a clear path to a 30-minute-per-game role.
Recent history tells us nothing is settled yet when it comes to the Rookie of the Year award. Stephon Castle won in 2025 despite the presence of DeAaron Fox (acquired in a midseason trade), Devin Vassell, and Chris Paul.
That’s why writing off either rookie feels premature. Talent has a way of sorting itself out regardless of how crowded the roster may look in July.
