LOS ANGELES – Victor Wembanyama put on an impressive display in his pre-season debut on Monday, but he was outdone by another big man playing in his first National Basketball Association (NBA) exhibition contest, Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren logged 21 points and nine rebounds, guiding hosts Oklahoma City Thunder to a 122-121 win over Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama had 20 points and five rebounds.
Wembanyama, the first overall pick in 2023’s draft out of France, said of Holmgren, the second overall pick out of Gonzaga University in the 2022 draft: “I feel like he hurt us... I know it’s just pre-season but for sure the games against OKC are gonna be interesting.”
Holmgren said: “I feel like Vic as well as myself really did a good job (Monday) of understanding that it’s not the Chet versus Vic Show. We want that to be a charity game in the summer or something, but this is the Thunder versus Spurs.
“It’s pre-season. We’re trying to get better within our teams, and sometimes that comes down to making a play individually.
“But going out there and making it about ourselves wasn’t what I was trying to do and I’m sure it wasn’t what he was trying to do on his end.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Holmgren: “He’s fantastic... He’s got a complete game, he’s smart, he knows how to play, he’s a good one for sure.”
Speaking about the two rookie big men, Popovich said: “They’re gonna be a lot of fun for everybody to watch over their careers.”
Holmgren, 21, played 16 minutes, all in the first half, and hit seven of his 10 field-goal attempts, including both of his shots from three-point range.
Wembanyama, 19, played 19 minutes before sitting out the fourth quarter. He shot eight of 13 from the field and two of five from three-point range. He grabbed two steals but committed a game-high four turnovers.
A sublime spin move and lay-up that bamboozled the Oklahoma defence in the second period caught the eye, while at the other end, a remarkable block on Jalen Williams in the first quarter showcased his defensive skills.
The Thunder led by 13 points with less than five minutes left before holding on for the win. Oklahoma City’s Ousmane Dieng blocked a lay-up attempt by Charles Bediako with 4.1 seconds left, and San Antonio’s Devonte’ Graham missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
The Spurs open the regular season against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct 25, the same day the Thunder begin on the road against the Chicago Bulls.
The first of four regular-season meetings between the Spurs and Thunder is scheduled for Nov 14 in Oklahoma City. REUTERS, AFP
