It was just a preseason game, but when Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren battled, it felt like so much more.
As the two big men played against each other for the first time on an NBA court, fans were treated to a matchup that was immediately detectable as a special one.
Wembanyama and Holmgren are two of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year. They both proved why they are so highly regarded when Holmgren’s Thunder narrowly defeated Wembanyama’s Spurs on Monday evening.
During his 19 minutes of action, Wembanyanama finished with 20 points (8-13 FG, 2-5 3P) as well as five rebounds, two steals and one block. Holmgren played 16 minutes and managed 21 points (7-10 FG, 2-2 3P) with 9 rebounds and one block.
Highlights of Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren in his NBA Preseason Debut
Holmgren would finish with 21 PTS & 9 REB in just 16 MIN while shooting 7/10 from the field and 2/2 from 3#NBA | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/jXFz9MKF8n
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) October 10, 2023
Both of these players did so many things we’re simply not used to seeing on the confines of an actual basketball court.
Holmgren is 7-foot-1 but scored as the ball-handler in a pick-and-roll set and nailed a 3-pointer using an off-ball screen. He also scored in more traditional ways like a big man would, including putbacks and basket cuts and rim rolls.
Wemby shows he's ready for the spotlight!
The No. 1 pick announced his presence in his #NBAPreseason debut with 20 points 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dywgF1B7Pn
— NBA (@NBA) October 10, 2023
Wembanyama also managed some absurd scoring possessions. Some of his most impressive moments came after off-ball screens, dribble handoffs and transition leak-outs.
His offensive rebound putback scores were exciting but the finesse that he displayed on his layup package was fully unbelievable.
Wemby with a smoooooth layup🔥 pic.twitter.com/T8TpW6i5Z6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 10, 2023
Especially due to his massive size, we can already that Wembanyama is going to make an immediate defensive impact for the Spurs.
Watch the way that he is able to recover to protect the rim on this play:
WEMBY SAYS NO ⛔️
…for the first of many times.
Watch live on NBA TV: https://t.co/htyakZeFve pic.twitter.com/FF1EkDJ0WB
— NBA (@NBA) October 10, 2023
The dig that he displayed on his steal, meanwhile, was arguably the most incomprehensible moment of the entire game.
Wembanyama has simply unbelievable flexibility, dexterity and mobility:
Wemby with the swipe and SLAM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Br4gcYAyCx
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 10, 2023
After the game, Wembanyama said that even though it was just a preseason game, he could tell that San Antonio’s games against Oklahoma City will be “interesting” moving forward.
Holmgren agreed and added that they have “no choice” but to go back and forth for years to come.
Oklahoma City and San Antonio will play each other four times this season. Their first regular-season game against one another is Nov. 14 in Oklahoma City.
But it doesn’t matter if either of these players (or someone else) eventually wins Rookie of the Year. The future of the sport is wildly more compelling with both of them playing.
