In a highly anticipated face-off between two early NBA Rookie of the Year contenders, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are set to square off against Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Both teams are eager to secure their first in-season tournament victories, with Oklahoma City facing previous defeats against Sacramento and Golden State, while San Antonio stumbled in their tournament opener against Minnesota.
Wembanyama, the top overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, has been delivering an impressive performance, boasting averages of 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks. Despite a challenging outing against Miami on Sunday, shooting 8-for-22 from the field, Wembanyama showcased versatility with seven assists, 18 points, and 11 boards.
“Every game is different, but it’s always one of my priorities to be aggressive,” Wembanyama emphasized. “It’s always something I think about.”
The Spurs, entering the game with an average of 29.9 assists per game, the second-best in the NBA, are determined to secure a victory.
Holmgren, the second pick in the 2022 draft, missed the previous season due to a foot injury. The 7-foot-1 power forward is contributing significantly, averaging 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 blocks.
“He’s a shot-blocking threat,” Wembanyama acknowledged. “And also a lob threat. It’s something we’ve got to keep in mind. The pair of him and Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) is going to be hard to handle, but we’re going to make it work.”
Holmgren has seamlessly integrated into a team that reached the play-in game last season, complementing key players like Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
“I just tried to come in and find the balance between being aggressive and not making it the Chet show,” Holmgren humbly stated. “It’s not that, it’ll never be that.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault emphasized the importance of Holmgren building a strong foundation within the team, steering clear of setting unrealistic expectations.
Despite the Spurs’ recent struggles, losing five consecutive games, coach Gregg Popovich remains optimistic. The team’s defensive woes, highlighted by a 119.8 defensive rating and a league-worst minus-11.3 net rating, pose challenges that Popovich believes can be overcome.
“The effort is there. I can see the wheels turning,” Popovich affirmed. “Nobody likes to lose.”
The absence of backup point guard Tre Jones due to hamstring tightness added to the Spurs’ challenges in their recent game.
This matchup marks the first of four meetings this season, with the Thunder having won all three encounters with the Spurs in the previous season.
