Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama have been pitted against each other since they met in a U-19 international matchup representing their countries in 2020. They went from that to battling over the 2024 Rookie of the Year, a trophy Wemby won easily over Holmgren. Chet reflected on his rivalry with Wemby and dismissed anyone who calls it a beef.
“We played against each other before we even made the NBA. People are like, ‘Y’all got beef?’ I’m like, beef? We’re out there competing, but beef? It makes it seem like 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 wants to lose or let the other person get a bucket or anything. We’re always gonna compete and if people take that as beef, they don’t understand competing, I guess.”
“I learn from playing against every single matchup I’ve played against, he’s no different. Well, he is different, the motherf***er is 7’5″. Something that works on somebody who’s 6’9″ doesn’t work on him.”
Chet sets the record straight on “beef” with Wemby.
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— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 19, 2024
Holmgren had a generational rookie campaign by being the key addition on an OKC Thunder team which went from the No. 10 seed to the No. 1 seed in the span of one season. This wasn’t his true rookie campaign as he was drafted in 2022, but a season-ending injury in preseason meant Chet wouldn’t make his NBA debut until the 2023-24 season. He averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks.
Even though Chet had the winning contributions within a defined role on the Thunder, he was completely blown away by the ridiculous two-way production Wembanyama was putting up on a tanking Spurs roster. Wemby averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year and winning Rookie of the Year unanimously.
Wembanyama Is On An All-Time Trajectory
Everyone can see the main difference between Holmgren and Wembanyama and is that the French center has the potential to be one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. He’s uniquely gifted at his size and is a DPOY-caliber defender as a rookie. Holmgren does a lot of the same stuff but not at the level Wembanyama has shown he can do it on.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recently hailed Wembanyama as someone who could be remembered as the game’s greatest player ever.
“He has the chance to be the best. Not at his age, not in Europe… but one of the best to ever play this game.”
Paul George, who had picked Chet to win ROTY over Wemby last season, said that Victor’s dominant end to last season doesn’t bode well for the NBA.
“The way he finished the year, I think it’s scary for the league,” George said. “Because I think the way he finished the year was the momentum he needed going into the summer. It’s just the personnel is not ready for all that he brings and his talents.”
Holmgren is a phenomenal talent who’ll likely make multiple All-Star and All-NBA teams in his career while contending for the DPOY. Unfortunately, he’ll always be trying to battle through relevance over Wembanyama, who already looks to be the league’s next generational icon.
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