Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama has serious bad blood with Thunder star Chet Holmgren — at least fans think so
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama has serious bad blood with Thunder star Chet Holmgren — at least fans think so initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs tip off Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tonight at 8:30 pm ET on NBC/Peacock.
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Despite the Spurs holding a 4-1 regular-season benefit and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander profitable his second consecutive MVP award, the subplot making rounds on-line is whether or not Victor Wembanyama actually hates Thunder heart Chet Holmgren. Both of them deny any bad blood, however public notion says in any other case.
The origin story dates again to 2021. Wembanyama and Holmgren first collided at the FIBA U19 World Cup Final, the place Team USA edged France 83-81. Holmgren walked away with event MVP honors, whereas Wembanyama took residence a runner-up medal. And, in response to fans on social media, that is the beginning of the stress between them.
Fast-forward to December 2025. Wemby dismissed the rivalry forward of a matchup with OKC, saying, “No, I don’t think about that. At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison between us.”
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Holmgren took a extra diplomatic method on Paul George‘s podcast, saying, “I don’t want to go into any matchup and try to make it about what it isn’t. It’s about trying to win the basketball game.”
He added that whereas going through a terrific participant brings further aggressive vitality, he doesn’t change his method simply because Wembanyama is on the ground.
thunder ahead Jaylin Williams echoed that forward of the sequence opener. After praising Holmgren’s elite protection and enjoying this season, Williams emphasized“I don’t think anybody on our team wakes up because we’re playing the Spurs. We’re waking up because we’re in the playoffs and want to be the best version of ourselves.”
Fans, nonetheless, have been by no means shopping for the “no bad blood” line with one X consumer writing“No but seriously why does Wemby hate Chet so much.”
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Another added“Wemby either gonna put up a BTA or shit the bed focusing on Chet all series.”
A 3rd noted“It’s not a rivalry — Wemby hates Chet and that’s the end. It’s just a one-sided beef.”
The fourth one claimed“Wemby gon go at Chet so crazy this series. He don’t like son at all & it shows.”
Their stats do add some edge to the narrative, although. According to Underdog, in 4 head-to-head video games in the course of the common season, Holmgren averaged 10.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. Meanwhile, Wembanyama averaged 17.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in those self same matchups. In phrases of scoring, Wemby appears to be like a lot better than Chet.
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However, the Thunder enter Game 1 as heavy favorites after recording an undefeated 8-0 begin this postseason on their option to defending their NBA championship title. If Wembanyama desires to make an announcement in opposition to Holmgren, this sequence supplies the stage. If not, Holmgren will face the problem of guarding probably the most versatile massive man in basketball.
