Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama's rivalry, explained

Folks, present we are again. The Thunder and nan Spurs are astir to play successful their first crippled against 1 different this NBA season.

That intends we get to spot Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama spell astatine it. These are fundamentally 2 hoops kaiju colliding. One is 7-foot-4 and nan different is 7-foot-1 and they some do everything guards tin do — sometimes better. It’s wild.

The comparisons will ever beryllium there. They’re some second-year large men contempt Holmgren being drafted a twelvemonth before. They some play nan aforesaid position. They’re some successful nan aforesaid conference. Their playing styles are similar.

But should we telephone their narration pinch each different a rivalry? It’s adjacent to telephone it that. But I’m not truthful judge it’s that rather yet.

Let’s dive into their narration connected nan tribunal truthful far.

Wait, truthful is this point really a rivalry?

Well, it’s competitive. Maybe it’s adjacent to telephone it a rivalry. But there’s nary animosity betwixt nan 2 of them.

Holmgren was asked astir his narration pinch Wemby complete nan summertime connected Paul George’s “Playoff P” podcast. He quickly clarified that, while things are competitive, location is nary “beef” betwixt nan 2 of them.

“People beryllium for illustration ‘Y’all sewage beef?’ I’m for illustration ‘Beef?’ We’re retired location competing, but beef? Like, beef intends erstwhile I spot you we’re fighting. Why do I sewage beef pinch him? I honestly don’t moreover cognize nan guy. We conscionable play hoops against each other. As competitors, neither of america want to lose. And neither of america want to, like, conscionable fto nan different personification get a bucket aliases anything. So, we’re ever going to compete. If group return it arsenic we sewage beef, those group don’t understand competing I guess.”

So, while they’re highly competitive, there’s thing much location astatine this point.

How competitory are they?

It’s beautiful clear that nan competitory juices travel a small spot harder erstwhile they statement up against 1 another.

It each started backmost successful 2021 astatine nan FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Wembanyama said losing to Holmgren and fouling retired of nan last crippled against Team USA is nan “worst memory” of his young hoops life truthful far.

Here’s much from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst:

“It is only nan worst hoops representation of Wembanyama’s life — “Just reasoning astir it makes my jaw clench,” he has said — and 1 of nan awesome accomplishments of Holmgren’s. Though he didn’t play exceptionally by his standards successful nan title crippled — Holmgren had 10 points and 5 assists — nan American subordinate was named nan tournament’s MVP and returned for his freshman twelvemonth astatine Gonzaga pinch a golden medal. Wembanyama had put up 22 points pinch 8 rebounds and 8 blocks earlier having to watch nan last minutes from nan bench.”

That competitory power betwixt them hasn’t disappeared.

What were their matchups like?

COMPETITIVE. In each caps. The games are nosy to watch. They some do things we’ve ne'er seen anyone for illustration them do connected an NBA court.

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren battled it retired successful San Antonio ⚔️

Wemby: 28 PTS, 13 REB, 5 BLK, W
Holmgren: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST pic.twitter.com/XnX07Om1gP

— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2024

With that said, mountains moved erstwhile we saw Wemby artifact Chet’s jumper.

Spurs – OKC.
Wemby – Chet.

Disfrutemos (o no). pic.twitter.com/PriCPtmLZ4

— SPURS LATAM (@Spurs_Latam) October 30, 2024

Chet and nan Thunder walked distant pinch 2 wins successful their 3 matchups. But Wembanyama would usually locomotion distant pinch a item aliases 2 that made you go, “Wow. Can’t hold to watch much of this for nan adjacent 10 years.”

So, look. Maybe this isn’t a rivalry now. But nan much these guys spot each other, nan person this matchup becomes nan existent deal.

Holmgren told reporters past year, “I scheme connected playing a agelong time, and i’m judge he does excessively truthful there’ll beryllium nary prime but to spell backmost and forth.”

Let’s dream that happens.