Prized rookies Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama battled for the first time during the regular season on Tuesday night, as the Thunder and Spurs faced off in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.
The height battle featuring the 7’1” Holmgren and the 7’4” Wembanyama had fans intrigued from the opening tip. Quite literally so, as when the two rookie centers stepped to center court for the game-opening jump ball, the result was rather astounding.
A photo of the jump ball between Wembanyama and Holmgren, which was taken by Logan Riely, went viral on social media, and NBA fans were awestruck by the two lanky big men as they competed for the opening possession.
What a photo of Wemby and Chet's jumpball 😳
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2023
📸: Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images pic.twitter.com/JyCxnQovla
make it the in-season tournament logo, adam https://t.co/PRQCQ2ib9m pic.twitter.com/bsV5xiiqps
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) November 15, 2023
Well this picture is awesome.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) November 15, 2023
For some reason what sticks out to me is that Wemby is three inches taller but their hands are even because Chet jumped three inches higher. https://t.co/yfVpPisiaw
thats the arm that michael jordan dunked with in space jam https://t.co/6vckti4AFx
— aus. (@12abernathy12) November 15, 2023
These guys look like a double helix together https://t.co/vGgKgIaHav
— Dave DuFour 🐲 (@DaveDuFourNBA) November 15, 2023
The future is now, young men. https://t.co/baa7CdVJkU
— Lucas Niven (@lucasdedirecta) November 15, 2023
The Future of Basketball. James Naismith could never have imagined such a majestic atrocity https://t.co/ouYEoSu1i1
— Don B Hayden Onme ™ (@hbeast11) November 15, 2023
the ball is in orbit https://t.co/YzmbBjWVVs
— ABSOLUTE ROASTER (@chewacow) November 15, 2023