Coming off the second showdown between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, our experts breakdown what’s next for the rookie big men and the race for Rookie of the Year.
The NBA’s biggest budding rivalry was on display Wednesday night, as 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, grabbing a 2-0 edge in the season series between these teams. Wembanyama led the team with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. On the other side, Holmgren had 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Now, midway through their first NBA season, these two are competing head-to-head as front-runners for Rookie of the Year.
Holmgren has already claimed the Western Conference’s Rookie of the Month title in November and December. And it doesn’t hurt that the Thunder are one of the top teams in the league, led by an MVP-caliber guard in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, has been the sole light in an otherwise dismal season for the last-place Spurs. He’s leading the team in points (20.3) and putting up impressive performances throughout the month, including having the second-fewest minutes for a triple-double in NBA history.
Coming off their second matchup, our NBA Insiders break down the future of the Holmgren-Wembanyama rivalry and what lies ahead in the tight Rookie of the Year race.
Long before they met 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 tipoff. Wembanyama hoisted 3-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 its feelings known right away.
