The Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night in a matchup that NBA fans have eagerly awaited. Why? It featured a showdown between two of the brightest young stars in the league – the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama. And in the end, it was Holmgren who came out on top, leading his team to a 105-93 victory.
Holmgren Outshines Wembanyama
From the opening tip, all eyes were on the two towering talents. Holmgren, at 7-foot-1, and Wembanyama, at a staggering 7-foot-3, are unlike anything the NBA has seen before. Both can handle the ball, shoot from outside, and protect the rim with their incredible length. But on this night, it was Holmgren who looked like the superior player.
The second-year Thunder big man poured in 19 points on an efficient 7-for-10 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers. He showcased his versatile offensive game, scoring in the post, off the dribble, and from beyond the arc. Holmgren’s length and defensive instincts were also on full display as he disrupted numerous Spurs possessions.
Wembanyama Struggles
On the other side, Wembanyama had a night to forget. The reigning Rookie of the Year managed just 6 points on 1-for-5 shooting, failing to score a single point or even attempt a shot in the second half. The Thunder defense, led by Holmgren, seemed to throw Wembanyama off his game.
Victor has improved since last year…He became more confident this summer while leading France at the Olympics.
– Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on Wembanyama before the game
But that confidence didn’t translate to the court on Wednesday. After the game, Coach Popovich declined to answer questions, instead giving a terse two-minute statement praising the Thunder and criticizing his own team’s effort. It was a disappointing performance from Wembanyama, especially considering how he had improved over the course of last season’s matchups with the Thunder.
Budding Rivalry?
The Holmgren vs Wembanyama narrative has been brewing since they entered the league as the top two picks in their draft. Their unique combination of size, skill and potential has many pegging them as future faces of the NBA. And matchups like this only fuel those expectations.
- Both are over 7-feet tall with guard skills
- Holmgren was 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting last season behind Wembanyama
- They’ve had epic duels, including a 23-point, 28-point showdown last year
However, Holmgren seems weary of the “manufactured” nature of their supposed rivalry, even if he understands the hype and marketing appeal. In his mind, every game is about the Thunder trying to win, regardless of individual matchups.
I enjoy every single day being able to wake up, go play basketball, take care of my family doing it…That doesn’t change game to game…it’s always going to be Thunder versus our opponent.
– Chet Holmgren after the game
Looking Ahead
Regardless of any rivalry talk, both Holmgren and Wembanyama figure to be centerpieces of their respective franchises for years to come. The Thunder are building an exciting young core around Holmgren, while the Spurs are hoping Wembanyama can be the next great star to carry on their proud traditions.
Games like this are just the first chapter in what could be a long, compelling story. Whether it truly becomes a rivalry or not, basketball fans will no doubt be eager to see these two unique unicorns do battle for years to come. And if Wednesday night was any indication, Chet Holmgren might just have the early edge on Victor Wembanyama.
