The NBA’s largest budding rivalry was on show Wednesday evening, as Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs took on Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the second time this season.
The Western Convention-leading Thunder dismantled the Spurs 140-114, grabbing a 2-0 edge within the season collection between these groups. Wembanyama led the group with 24 factors, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. On the opposite aspect, Holmgren had 17 factors, 9 rebounds and three blocks.
Now, halfway by means of their first NBA season, these two are competing head-to-head as front-runners for Rookie of the 12 months.
Holmgren has already claimed the Western Convention’s Rookie of the Month title in November and December. And it would not damage that the Thunder are one of many prime groups within the league, led by an MVP-caliber guard in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
Wembanyama, then again, has been the only real gentle in an in any other case dismal season for the last-place Spurs. He is main the group in factors (20.3) and placing up spectacular performances all through the month, together with having the second-fewest minutes for a triple-double in NBA historical past.
Coming off their second matchup, our NBA Insiders break down the way forward for the Holmgren-Wembanyama rivalry and what lies forward within the tight Rookie of the 12 months race.
Early buzz in San Antonio
Lengthy earlier than they met at midcourt for the opening tip, Wembanyama and Holmgren shared the Frost Financial institution Heart courtroom collectively. The rookies warmed up on the similar time, 65 minutes earlier than tipoff. Wembanyama hoisted 3-pointers on one aspect, and Holmgren did the identical on the opposite.
Whereas everybody across the two 7-foot-plus sensations is perhaps downplaying the Rookie of the 12 months race — Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault stated “It is a group sport. It is not tennis,” when requested in regards to the rivalry between the large males — the group in San Antonio made its emotions identified straight away.
Throughout participant introductions, Spurs followers loudly booed Holmgren when his title was known as and gave Wembanyama maybe his second-loudest ovation of the 12 months moments later (solely opening evening felt greater).
— Andrew Lopez
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Who’s on the prime of the block?
Each Holmgren and Wembanyama are on monitor for essentially the most blocks per recreation by a rookie since Shawn Bradley averaged 3.0 in 1993-94. Wembanyama’s 3.2 common ranks sixth amongst rookies since blocks had been first tracked in 1973-74, in line with Stathead.com, whereas Holmgren (2.6) is within the prime 20.
On Wednesday evening, each exceeded their season averages. Wembanyama’s 4 blocks had been spotlight worthy: He erased Jalen Williams’ shot try on a drive moments after Holmgren had one in all his three blocks, spiked a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot to the courtroom and showcased his 8-foot wingspan by snatching a Josh Giddey layup with an outstretched left arm. Wembanyama additionally had the one head-to-head block of Holmgren underneath the basket.
For each star rookies, rim safety goes past simply blocking pictures. Every is within the prime 10 in subject purpose proportion allowed on pictures inside 5 ft, with Wembanyama rating fourth, in line with Second Spectrum monitoring on NBA Superior Stats, whereas Holmgren sits eighth — simply forward of Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. Every rejection makes opponents warier of venturing close to the basket towards both of those rookies.
— Kevin Pelton
Good luck guarding them
In watching Holmgren and Wembanyama go at one another, it is obvious how exact NBA defenders — and the younger stars themselves — should be when guarding these two from the second they’ve the ball.
Holmgren, capturing a formidable 38% from 3-point vary on 4 tries per recreation, forces laborious closeouts alongside the perimeter. However he is fluid sufficient to place it on the ground and nimble sufficient to tug off artistic finishes, as he confirmed in Wednesday’s opening interval. Wembanyama had just a few offensive hiccups early within the recreation with Holmgren guarding him and as soon as forcing him right into a journey. Just a few sequences later, Wembanyama bought the higher of Holmgren, flashing to the free throw line and turning for a one-handed dunk earlier than Holmgren may get into correct place.
Wemby throws down one-handed flush
Victor Wembanyama will get to the rack for a one-handed dunk.
The fourth quarter elicited much more highlights with some one-on-one motion. Wembanyama caught the ball on the prime of the arc earlier than bodying Holmgren into the paint and dunking on him. That appeared to gentle a fireplace underneath Holmgren, who had a dunk of his personal shortly after en path to a nine-point burst within the closing interval.
That is the great thing about these two — they alter the sport instantly by forcing split-second choices on each ends of the ground. One more reason why we look ahead to seeing this matchup for years to come back.
– Chris Herring
Convey on Spherical 3 of the rivalry
The sport inside the recreation between Holmgren and Wembanyama is simply as enjoyable to look at because the precise recreation itself. Wembanyama staring down Holmgren after an absurd step-through dunk within the fourth quarter, Holmgren decreasing his shoulder into Wembanyama on the following possession in response. It is apparent how a lot these guys perceive the importance of their budding rivalry and the brightly lit stage they had been enjoying on Wednesday evening. Kudos to each coaches for letting them go at it deep into the fourth quarter of a blowout.
Wemby powers by means of Holmgren for the dunk
Victor Wembanyama forces his method by means of Chet Holmgren for a imply dunk.
In an period through which stars hug one another after video games and like one another’s Instagram posts, the natural nature of their rivalry has been refreshing to look at unfold — the league hasn’t had one in all these in fairly a while. Sure, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have been rivals for the MVP award the previous three seasons. However they’re pleasant rivals, complimenting one another by means of the media fairly than stoking the hearth of their fan bases.
Wembanyama and Holmgren stare one another down. They go at one another. The Spurs and Thunder fan bases mercilessly debate every star’s deserves for Rookie of the 12 months, and nobody steps in to tamp down the animosity. I am unable to anticipate the following matchup.
— Ramona Shelburne