3 reasons the upcoming nationally televised clash of two young titans will be must-see

The countdown to the rematch between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren has officially begun, with less than three weeks until the two clash. The beauty of the upcoming game is that both players have solidified themselves as the clear frontrunners for Rookie of the Year honors. The NBA recognizes the significance of the matchup as evidenced by their recent announcement, shifting the contest to a primetime slot.

As respected veterans like LeBron James and Steph Curry began to age, there were questions as to who the star players of the future would be. The league seems to be in good hands with the influx of talent over the last 5 years with players like Ja Morant, Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, etc. Adding Chet and Wemby to the list of dynamic stars breeds optimism for a very strong future for the Association. The January meeting between the two giants will display much so you dare not miss it.

3. Their first matchup was just not enough

The approaching event is sure to draw the eyes of many, and for good reason. Both players have been the center of much NBA debate all season. Their first time facing each other was televised on November 14th on TNT, but at such an early juncture in the season, neither player was at their best. Vic ended the game with eight points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks, while Holmgren posted nine points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block.

Between fan base bias and casual box score observers, this is an opportunity to see the impact of both players for themselves almost midway through the season. Both players' averages are much higher in just about every category than what they showcased a month and a half ago.

Either player has accomplished a historic feat on a given night, and at almost halfway through the season, they are both comfortable enough to give the people what they want. The importance of this game was always apparent for that very reason, as the first game's struggles were predictable.

2. Rivalry week boost

The game comes in the middle of the NBA's newly introduced Rivalry Week. Fans across the league don't always agree on everything. In fact, they probably disagree with 80% of what a fan of any other team says. With team-colored goggles, it is hard to see anything outside of your own spectrum. Yet many will agree that rivalries were a fun part of professional basketball, and that aspect has been sorely missed over the last decade.

Kevin Durant will tell you that friends perform harder when trying to one-up each other. Whether that's true or not is a matter of opinion. What's not debatable is the added aspect that true rivalries bring to competitive sports. Those contentious matchups were looked forward to by fans as coming out as the victor often felt like slaying a fabled dragon on an exciting quest for the gold whether you're an actual championship contender or not.

That part of the NBA played a focal part in the growth of the NBA in the 80s, 90s, and beyond. But the most important part of rivalries is having impactful, league-renowned players on the competing teams. National audiences don't care if the teams are full of role-players, but with players like Wembanyama and Holmgren, the intrigue will be there for every game and this contest is an important, early step in fueling that.

1. The Rookie of the Year argument

On the latest NBA.com rookie ladder, Chet Holmgren was listed as the leader for the second week in a row, with Wemby following up at number two. Fans on both sides are adamantly rooting for their guy, and if the season ended right now, either player could win, and people would be forced to be okay with whatever decision was made.

The race is photo-finish close right now. Whether that should be the case is another opinion, but if you have paid attention to the weekly updates, it's obviously the case. Their numbers have been covered backward and forward, but feel free to revisit ESPN.com if you need a refresher.

The fact of the matter is that this award is likely to be won based on two factors: first, the player who can string together the most eye-popping stat sheets with wow play, and second, which player can get the best of the other in their head-to-head matchups.

Last season, Joel Embiid won the league's MVP award. It was well-deserved, but that did not stop Jokic supporters from pointing out their similar numbers. Most would have been fine with either option, but the two stars played a game where Embiid dominated Jokic. That was likely a determining factor for many voters. It's a hard thing to ignore when comparing two players so close in stats.

One thing is for sure: both players want to contribute to winning at a high level. To be recognized with a ROY award for what they bring to the table, they'll need to make their case before the world on January 24th on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. CT.