Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama's rivalry, explained
Folks, here we are again. The Thunder and the Spurs are about to play in their first game against one another this NBA season.
That means we get to see Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama go at it. These are basically two basketball kaiju colliding. One is 7-foot-4 and the other is 7-foot-1 and they both do everything guards can do — sometimes better. It’s wild.
The comparisons will always be there. They’re both second-year big men despite Holmgren being drafted a year before. They both play the same position. They’re both in the same conference. Their playing styles are similar.
But should we call their relationship with each other a rivalry? It’s fair to call it that. But I’m not so sure it’s that quite yet.
Let’s dive into their relationship on the court so far.
Wait, so is this thing actually a rivalry?
Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Well, it’s competitive. Maybe it’s fair to call it a rivalry. But there’s no animosity between the two of them.
Holmgren was asked about his relationship with Wemby over the summer on Paul George’s “Playoff P” podcast. He quickly clarified that, while things are competitive, there is no “beef” between the two of them.
“People be like ‘Y’all got beef?’ I’m like ‘Beef?’ We’re out there competing, but beef? Like, beef means when I see you we’re fighting. Why do I got beef with him? I honestly don’t even know the guy. We just play basketball against each other. As competitors, neither of us want to lose. And neither of us want to, like, just let the other person get a bucket or anything. So, we’re always going to compete. If people take it as we got beef, those people don’t understand competing I guess.”
So, while they’re extremely competitive, there’s nothing more there at this point.
How competitive are they?
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
It’s pretty clear that the competitive juices flow a little bit harder when they line up against one another.
It all started back in 2021 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Wembanyama said losing to Holmgren and fouling out of the final game against Team USA is the “worst memory” of his young basketball life so far.
Here’s more from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst:
“It is only the worst basketball memory of Wembanyama’s life — “Just thinking about it makes my jaw clench,” he has said — and one of the great accomplishments of Holmgren’s. Though he didn’t play exceptionally by his standards in the championship game — Holmgren had 10 points and five assists — the American player was named the tournament’s MVP and returned for his freshman year at Gonzaga with a gold medal. Wembanyama had put up 22 points with eight rebounds and eight blocks before having to watch the final minutes from the bench.”
That competitive energy between them hasn’t disappeared.
What were their matchups like?
COMPETITIVE. In all caps. The games are fun to watch. They both do things we’ve never seen anyone like them do on an NBA court.
Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren battled it out in 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 when we saw Wemby block Chet’s jumper.
Spurs – OKC.
Wemby – Chet.Disfrutemos (o no). pic.twitter.com/PriCPtmLZ4
— SPURS LATAM (@Spurs_Latam) October 30, 2024
Chet and the Thunder walked away with two wins in their three matchups. But Wembanyama would usually walk away with a highlight or two that made you go, “Wow. Can’t wait to watch more of this for the next 10 years.”
So, look. Maybe this isn’t a rivalry now. But the more these guys see each other, the closer this matchup becomes the real deal.
Holmgren told reporters last year, “I plan on playing a long time, and i’m sure he does too so there’ll be no choice but to go back and forth.”
Let’s hope that happens.