Although Chet Holmgren is an impressive young talent who was a core member of a championship team, few people believe he is presently superior to Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio Spurs center is already an All-Star who could earn an All-NBA selection in the near future, and yet, he apparently still feels the need to take a shot at the Oklahoma City Thunder standout.
When asked in French if there is a rivalry with Holmgren, Wembanyama made some eyebrow-raising and arguably unnecessary comments.
“No, I don’t think about that,” he said (also in French), per L'Equipe's Maxime Aubin, after scoring 12 points in 23 minutes in Tuesday's 130-110 win versus OKC. “At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison (between us).”
Those who follow the Spurs closely already know that Wembanyama has an edge to him during interviews. He is confident in his game and is not afraid to let everyone know it. The question is, though, why does the former Rookie of the Year continue to land jabs on Holmgren?
It could be as simple as motivation. Michael Jordan used player comparisons and perceived doubt as fuel for him on the court. There is always a ton of hype surrounding this showdown of seven-footers, and perhaps that bothers Wembanyama. The 21-year-old could resent all the “Wemby vs. Chet” talk, potentially believing he has already separated himself from such a debate. Ultimately, the results will speak for themselves.
Spurs best the Thunder again
Neither player seized a large share of the spotlight on Tuesday night. Victor Wembanyama is still on a minutes restriction after recently returning from a calf strain, and Chet Holmgren recorded just seven points and three rebounds in 27 minutes of action. Both men will have many more opportunities to bring their best in the future, as there is a good chance the Thunder (26-4) and Spurs (22-7) will remain fixtures in the Western Conference for the years to come.
San Antonio is no one-man show, with a balanced roster leading the team to its best campaign in several seasons. Case in point, sixth man Keldon Johnson led the way with 25 points off the bench (10-of-16 shooting). The Spurs have now beaten the 2025 NBA champions twice in the last 10 days. They will try to knock them down once more when the two teams duke it out on Christmas Day in the Paycom Center.
Whether either man likes it, there will be plenty of attention on the Wembanyama-Holmgren matchup.
