No one informed Victor Welbanyama and Chet Holmgren that the preseason has begun.
The rising rookie stars put on a display in their respective NBA debuts on Monday. The Oklahoma City Thunder of Holmgren defeated the San Antonio Spurs of Wembanyama, 122-121. However, the final score was not the focus of this discussion.
In their first matchup on an NBA court, all eyes were on the performance of the seven-foot-plus players. In a head-to-head matchup in the post and beyond, they displayed an unprecedented combination of size, marksmanship, skill, and athleticism.
Wembanyama scored 10 points and blocked a shot in the first quarter while making four of his first five attempts. His denial of Jalen Williams’ attempted layup exemplified how difficult life will be for aspiring scorers in San Antonio.
Wembanyama finished with 20 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one block on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point range. He accomplished everything in 19 minutes of play.
Holmgren recorded 21 points, nine rebounds, and one block on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 3-point shooting. Both players sat for the majority of the second half as he wreaked havoc in 16 minutes.
Both players delivered a performance that should have NBA and NBA fanatics ravenous.
After years of anticipation as the most-hyped prospect since LeBron James in 2003, Wembanyama has eventually joined the NBA. Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, is making his début after a Lisfranc injury wiped out his entire rookie year. Their respective teams, which have surrounded them with youthful talent, hope that they will serve as the cornerstones of a Western Conference rivalry for years to come.
