OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren appeared trying to avoid creating competition.
The much-anticipated first regular-season meeting between two of the NBA’s top rookies yesterday wasn’t much of a game, and apparently there isn’t much of a rivalry between the slender seven-footers.
Wembanyama said he wasn’t aware he was even being compared to Holmgren.
“Every prospect is compared to everyone,” the 19-year-old from France said.
They rarely matched up one-on-one yesterday, and both had off nights. Wembanyama finished with eight points on four-for-15 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked two shots in San Antonio’s 123-87 loss to Oklahoma City. Holmgren finished with nine points on three-for-10 shooting and had seven rebounds and three assists.
Wembanyama, the number one pick in this year’s draft, entered the night averaging 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. Holmgren, the number two pick in the 2022 draft, missed last season due to a foot injury but has recovered in grand style.
