Largest takeaways from Wemby vs. Chet: What’s subsequent for the ROY showdown?

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 sequence 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 via 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 high groups within the league, led by an MVP-caliber guard in Shai-Gilgeous Alexander.

Wembanyama, however, has been the only 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 court docket collectively. The rookies warmed up on the identical 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 likely to be downplaying the Rookie of the 12 months race — Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault mentioned “It is a group sport. It isn’t tennis,” when requested concerning the rivalry between the massive males — the gang in San Antonio made its emotions identified immediately.

Throughout participant introductions, Spurs followers loudly booed Holmgren when his title was referred to as and gave Wembanyama maybe his second-loudest ovation of the 12 months moments later (solely opening evening felt greater).

— Andrew Lopez

Who’s on the high of the block?

Each Holmgren and Wembanyama are on monitor for essentially the most blocks per sport by a rookie since Shawn Bradley averaged 3.0 in 1993-94. Wembanyama’s 3.2 common ranks sixth amongst rookies since blocks have been first tracked in 1973-74, in accordance with Stathead.com, whereas Holmgren (2.6) is within the high 20.

On Wednesday evening, each exceeded their season averages. Wembanyama’s 4 blocks have been spotlight worthy: He erased Jalen Williams’ shot try on a drive moments after Holmgren had certainly one of his three blocks, spiked a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot to the court docket 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 high 10 in subject objective proportion allowed on pictures inside 5 toes, with Wembanyama rating fourth, in accordance 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 in opposition to 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 — need to be when guarding these two from the second they’ve the ball.

Holmgren, taking pictures a formidable 38% from 3-point vary on 4 tries per sport, forces arduous closeouts alongside the perimeter. However he is fluid sufficient to place it on the ground and nimble sufficient to drag off inventive finishes, as he confirmed in Wednesday’s opening interval. Wembanyama had a number of offensive hiccups early within the sport with Holmgren guarding him and as soon as forcing him right into a journey. A couple of sequences later, Wembanyama received the higher of Holmgren, flashing to the free throw line and turning for a one-handed dunk earlier than Holmgren might get into correct place.

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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 high of the arc earlier than bodying Holmgren into the paint and dunking on him. That appeared to gentle a hearth underneath Holmgren, who had a dunk of his personal shortly after en path to a nine-point burst within the ultimate interval.

That is the great thing about these two — they modify the sport instantly by forcing split-second selections on each ends of the ground. Another excuse why we stay up for seeing this matchup for years to come back.

– Chris Herring

Carry on Spherical 3 of the rivalry

The sport throughout the sport between Holmgren and Wembanyama is simply as enjoyable to look at because the precise sport itself. Wembanyama staring down Holmgren after an absurd step-through dunk within the fourth quarter, Holmgren decreasing his shoulder into Wembanyama on the subsequent possession in response. It is apparent how a lot these guys perceive the importance of their budding rivalry and the brightly lit stage they have been taking part in on Wednesday evening. Kudos to each coaches for letting them go at it deep into the fourth quarter of a blowout.

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Wemby powers via Holmgren for the dunk

Victor Wembanyama forces his manner via Chet Holmgren for a imply dunk.

In an period by 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 certainly one of 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 via the media quite than stoking the fireplace 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 await the subsequent matchup.

— Ramona Shelburne