Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dunks over Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Despite Wiggins' team-high 29 points, the Kings won 113-101. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dunks over Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Despite Wiggins' team-high 29 points, the Kings won 113-101. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

Only a month into the 2014-15 season, it’s becoming abundantly clear the chase for NBA Rookie of the Year is a two-horse race — or, to get specific, a one-Buck-and-one-Timberwolve race.

It’s 19-year-old Kansas University one-and-done Andrew Wiggins versus 19-year-old Duke one-and-done Jabari Parker.

Milwaukee’s No. 2 overall pick currently holds the edge on Minnesota’s No. 1 overall pick (via Cleveland). For one thing, Parker’s Bucks are far more relevant on the NBA landscape, off to a 10-8 start and currently No. 5 overall in the arguably shoddy Eastern Conference.

Wiggins and the Timberwolves are 4-12, and next-to-last in the 15-team, stacked Western Conference.

But Wiggins can make up plenty of ground if he just improves a little, statistically, throughout the season and gets to a point where his numbers look better than Parker’s.

Right now, their production looks pretty similar, except for Parker’s rebounding — 6.1 boards a game compared to Wiggins’ 3.6.

Both rookies have looked like future all-stars some nights and guys who should still be in college on others. Parker has scored in double figures — with a high of 23 at Brooklyn last month — in 12 of 18 games. Wiggins put up 10 or more points nine times — season-high of 29 came Nov. 22 against Sacramento — through his first 16 games.

One of the high-flying Canadian’s top highlight plays to date came Monday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, when Mo Williams found Wiggins in transition for an alley-oop during a 127-101 loss.

Maybe more amazing than that finish is the stat from one of the commentators that can be heard on the YouTube clip of the lob: It was “just the sixth dunk of the season for Wiggins.”

What?

How is that even possible? Well, dunks and layups aren’t easy to come by in The Association. Even for someone with the athleticism of Wiggins. Just 59 of his 168 field-goal attempts so far have come right around the basket.

Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins' shot chart, through Dec. 1, 2014. (Via NBA.com/Stats)

And Wiggins has just been average — as marked by the yellow in his NBA.com shot chart — in the paint. He is below average (red) from seven areas of the floor and above average (green) from three-point range in the left corner, and on the right wing.

The sooner he can get that area of the paint turned green the better his chances will be to beat out Parker for Rookie of the Year.

At least he doesn’t have to worry about much competition. Scott Howard tracks rookie production for NBA.com throughout the season with his Rookie Ladder feature. In his most recent entry, Wiggins is behind Parker at the top.

Coming in at No. 3? Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic. Who? Exactly. He averages 9.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.

It would take some kind of miracle or disaster for any other rookie to surpass Wiggins and Parker. Those two have nearly lapped the field, twice.

How unimpressive have this year’s lottery picks been, due to injury or not being ready to perform yet? Undrafted KU product Tarik Black comes in at No. 7 on the most recent rookie ladder, with averages of 4.3 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Good for him. Bad for 2014 draft picks not named Wiggins or Parker. (And Philadelphia’s 2013 lottery pick, Nerlens Noel — 7.9 points, 6.5 boards, 1.3 blocks.)

— Keep up with the production of all the ‘Hawks in the NBA daily at KUsports.com.

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