This is an IHeart podcast.

On this episode of the heat check, it's time for the rookie report.

Your weekly check-in on the rookies in the league, how they're doing.

We got a week left until Christmas, people.

So let's check in with Eve's Missy?

Oh my goodness.

Who is that?

Exactly, Anthony.

Drop that motherfucking beat.

That should be Rewan.

The Rookie of the Year race seemed like it was pretty much solidly for one player.

And then it was upended when the runaway favorite Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers went down with a meniscus tear, had surgery, will miss an

extended time, and now is out indefinitely putting his campaign in jeopardy.

So now the race is back to being wide open folks,

which is why the second favorite to win right now at plus 225 is someone that no one expected

in a place that everyone has lost interest in, no one is watching the big ozah, baby.

To say things have not gone swimmingly in New Orleans would be

probably the understatement of the year, right? You got Zion, you got B.I., you got C.J. McCollum,

you got Tray Murphy, you got Herb Jones, you got Jose Alvaradoes, among others, among others,

who have spent significant time on the IR, often at the same time.

Brennan Ingram is on an expiring. He has proven to be untradable.

Now there is not even a timetable for Zion's return.

...