OKLAHOMA CITY — Chet Holmgren often finds it tedious to continuously speak about the narrative rivalry he shares with fellow player Victor Wembanyama, yet he acknowledges the excitement that surrounds it.
Wembanyama stands at an impressive 7 feet 3 inches, while Holmgren is slightly shorter at 7 feet 1 inch. Last season, Wembanyama claimed the Rookie of the Year title with the San Antonio Spurs, while Holmgren was the runner-up for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both players exhibit exceptional ball-handling skills and shooting abilities, which are quite rare for their tall statures, adding intrigue to their matchups.
The dynamic between them is beneficial for the NBA, creating anticipation that might draw more fans to the arenas.
“The NBA operates like a business,” Holmgren noted. “The league revolves around its players… Ultimately, it’s about attracting people to the games. They promote players to achieve that, which I see as effective marketing.”
In their recent face-off, Holmgren triumphed, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, contributing significantly to the Thunder’s 105-93 victory over the Spurs.
On the other hand, Wembanyama had a tough night, finishing with just six points from 1-of-5 shooting and failing to score in the second half.
Before the game, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich commented on Wembanyama’s growth since last season, where he also pursued the Defensive Player of the Year accolade. He praised Wembanyama’s increased confidence gained while leading the French national team to a silver medal at the Olympics this summer.
Post-game, Popovich opted not to address inquiries directly, delivering a brief two-minute statement that acknowledged the Thunder’s performance while critiquing his team’s effort.
Throughout the previous season, Wembanyama showed improvement each time the Spurs faced the Thunder, with the team’s performances reflecting that growth.
While Oklahoma City secured wins in their initial two encounters, Wembanyama had an impressive outing in their third meeting, putting up 28 points and contributing 13 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks in a 132-118 victory for the Spurs, where Holmgren also had a notable performance with 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Wembanyama sat out of the fourth game, which the Thunder won decisively. However, he managed to average 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks across his three appearances, setting the stage for Wednesday’s matchup with a vibrant atmosphere in the Paycom Center.
Upon being introduced as a starter, Wembanyama was met with loud boos, contrasting sharply with the rousing cheers that welcomed former Thunder player Chris Paul.
When Wembanyama won the tip-off, the crowd buzzed with excitement every time he faced Holmgren. The energy peaked in the first quarter when Holmgren attempted a pull-up jumper against Wembanyama, though it missed. Holmgren managed to sink two early three-pointers while defended by other Spurs players.
However, as the game progressed, the excitement faded as the score disparity widened. By halftime, Holmgren had amassed 15 points, while Wembanyama was sitting at six points with only one successful shot out of five attempts and six rebounds.
With Oklahoma City gaining a comfortable lead, Wembanyama found himself on the bench for the final 7:04 of the game—an unexpected turn of events for a player who had been averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds across his previous games.
In a post-game reflection regarding their matchup, Holmgren redirected the conversation. “Every day I wake up and get to play basketball is a joy. Taking care of my family through it has always been my dream. That motivation doesn’t waver from game to game. For me, it’s always Thunder taking on whoever the opponent is. My focus is on winning basketball games, and that remains my priority every night,” he expressed.