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Holmgren won the matchup against Wemby on Wednesday. He scored 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting to help the Thunder defeat the Spurs 105-93.
Chet Holmgren winning the ball over Victor Wembanyama (AP)
Chet Holmgren gets tired of addressing what he considers a manufactured rivalry with Victor Wembanyama, but he understands the hype.
Wembanyama is 7-foot-3, and Holmgren is 7-foot-1. Wembanyama was last year’s Rookie of the Year for the San Antonio Spurs, and Holmgren was the runner-up for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both have ballhandling skills and shooting range that are unusually good for players with their height and length.
That kind of storyline potentially leads to higher ratings and more fans in seats.
“The NBA is a business,” Holmgren said. “And the league has been built around players … It’s really — it’s about getting people to come and watch the games. And that’s one of the ways they do it — by advertising the players. So, I just see it as a form of advertising.”
Holmgren won the matchup on Wednesday. He scored 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting to help the Thunder defeat the Spurs 105-93.
Wembanyama was held to six points on 1-for-5 shooting. He did not take a shot or score in the second half.
Before the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Wembanyama has improved since last year, when he was also runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. He said the 20-year-old became more confident this summer while leading France to a silver medal at the Olympics.
After the game, Popovich didn’t answer questions. He gave a two-minute statement complimenting the Thunder and criticizing his team’s effort.
Last season, Wembanyama became more effective each time the Spurs played the Thunder, and San Antonio’s results improved, too.
Oklahoma City won the first two matchups last season, but Wembanyama had 28 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in the third, a 132-118 victory for San Antonio. Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the same game.
Wembanyama didn’t play in the fourth game, a runaway win for the Thunder, but he averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in the three he played, setting the stage for the energy level at the Paycom Center on Wednesday.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)