The NBA's biggest rivalry in the making was on display Wednesday night, when Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs took on Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this season.
The Western Conference-leading Thunder dismantled the Spurs 140-114, taking a 2-0 lead in the season series between these teams. Wembanyama led the team with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. On the other hand, Holmgren scored 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Now, halfway through their first NBA season, these two go head-to-head as favorites for the Rookie of the Year award.
Holmgren already earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors in November and December. And it doesn't hurt that the Thunder are one of the best teams in the league, led by an MVP-caliber point guard in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, has been the only light in an otherwise dismal season for the bottom Spurs. He leads the team in points (20.3) and has put together impressive performances throughout the month, including the second-fewest minutes for a triple-double in NBA history.
After their second meeting, our NBA Insiders analyze the future of the Holmgren-Wembanyama rivalry and what awaits us in the tight race for Rookie of the Year.
Early buzz in San Antonio
Long before meeting at midcourt for the opening tip, Wembanyama and Holmgren shared the Frost Bank Center court together. The rookies warmed up at the same time, 65 minutes before kickoff. Wembanyama scored three-pointers on one side and Holmgren did the same on the other.
While everyone around the two 7-foot-plus sensations might be downplaying the Rookie of the Year race — Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said, “It's a team sport. It's not tennis.” , when asked about the rivalry between the big men) The crowd in San Antonio made their feelings known immediately.
During player introductions, Spurs fans loudly booed Holmgren when his name was called and gave Wembanyama perhaps his second-loudest ovation of the year moments later (only opening night felt bigger).
–Andres López
Who is at the top of the block?
Both Holmgren and Wembanyama are on pace for the most blocks per game by a rookie since Shawn Bradley averaged 3.0 in 1993-94. Wembanyama's 3.2 average ranks sixth among rookies since blocks were first tracked in 1973-74, according to Stathead.com, while Holmgren's (2.6) is in the top 20.
On Wednesday night, both surpassed their season averages. Wembanyama's four blocks were noteworthy: He erased Jalen Williams' shot attempt on a drive moments after Holmgren had one of his three blocks, fired a shot from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander up the court and showed off his 8-foot wingspan by catching a layup from Josh Giddey with his outstretched left arm. Wembanyama also had Holmgren's only face-off block under the basket.
For both star rookies, rim protection goes beyond simply blocking shots. Each is in the top 10 in field goal percentage allowed on shots inside 5 feet, with Wembanyama ranking fourth, as tracked by Second Spectrum in NBA Advanced Stats, while Holmgren ranks eighth, just by ahead of Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. Each rejection makes opponents more cautious about venturing near the basket against any of these rookies.
-Kevin Pelton
Good luck taking care of them
Watching Holmgren and Wembanyama attack each other, it becomes clear how precise NBA defenders (and the young stars themselves) have to be in defending these two from the moment they have the ball.
Holmgren, shooting an impressive 38% from 3-point range on four attempts per game, forces tough closeouts along the perimeter. But he is fluid enough to play down the court and agile enough to make creative shots, as he demonstrated in the first period Wednesday. Wembanyama had some offensive hiccups early in the game with Holmgren guarding him and once forcing him to travel. A few sequences later, Wembanyama outplayed Holmgren, leaping to the free throw line and spinning for a one-handed dunk before Holmgren could get into position.
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Wemby flushes with just one hand
Victor Wembanyama comes to the rack for a one-handed dunk.
The fourth quarter sparked even more highlights with some one-on-one matchups. Wembanyama caught the ball at the top of the arc before pushing Holmgren into the paint and diving over him. That seemed to light a fire under Holmgren, who made his own dunk soon after en route to a nine-point burst in the fourth quarter.
That's the beauty of these two: they change the game in an instant by forcing split-second decisions on both ends of the court. Another reason we hope to see this matchup for years to come.
-Chris Herring
Let Round 3 of the rivalry begin.
The match within the match between Holmgren and Wembanyama is as fun to watch as the match itself. Wembanyama stared down Holmgren after an absurd dunk in the fourth quarter, Holmgren lowered his shoulder to Wembanyama on the next possession in response. It's obvious how much these guys understand the significance of their budding rivalry and the brightly lit stage they played on Wednesday night. Kudos to both coaches for letting them keep going in the fourth quarter of a blowout.
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Watch Wemby staring at Holmgren after a dunk
Victor Wembanyama makes his way past Chet Holmgren for a dunk.
In an era where stars hug each other after games and like each other's Instagram posts, it's been refreshing to see the organic nature of their rivalry play out — the league hasn't had one of these in a lot of time. Yes, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been rivals for the MVP award the last three seasons. But they are friendly rivals, congratulating each other through the media rather than fanning the fires of their supporters.
Wembanyama and Holmgren stare at each other. They attack each other. The Spurs and Thunder fan bases mercilessly debate the merits of each star for the Rookie of the Year award, and no one steps in to calm the animosity. I can't wait for the next showdown.
–Ramona Shelburne
