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Chet Holmgren addresses budding rivalry with Victor Wembanyama
Chet Holmgren has shut down talk of a rivalry with Victor Wembanyama, saying that the so-called "beef" was fabricated by the media during their rookie campaigns last year.
"I don't want to go into any matchup and make it about what it isn't," Holmgren told "Podcast P with Paul George." "It's about winning the basketball game. I don't want to fall into the trap of turning something into a one-on-one game. Obviously, there's a lot of competitive juice —when you go up against a really good player — but I wasn't changing my gameplan just because we had Spurs on the schedule."
While Wembanyama walked away with Rookie of the Year honors, Holmgren was in the race until the last month of the season when the Spurs phenom separated himself from the pack. When asked if he deserved the hardware — especially since his Thunder finished with the No. 1 seed — Holmgren said "the criteria" for NBA awards changes every year and he's not sure if winning even matters to voters.
The Thunder star also shut down talk of the media voting against him due to his redshirt rookie year ending with injury, and him not technically being a rookie. Holmgren said Wembanyama was "deserving in his own right" to clinch the award, but felt he had done enough to win, too.
At this point, Paul George brought up a "different kind of energy" every time Holmgren and Wembanyama battled on the court, which was palpable to onlookers. Again, Holmgren shut down talk of any animosity.
"That's probably just us being competitors," Holmgren responded. "But when people ask, 'Y'all got beef?' I'm like, 'What beef? We're out there competing.' To me, beef means, we're fighting. Why would I have beef with him? I honestly don't even know the guy."
Regardless of Holmgren downplaying the rivalry, it was evident to everyone who watched the Spurs versus Thunder games last season that the two brought the best out of each other. This was particularly evident during their memorable leap-year-day game matchup. While Wemby finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks, Holmgren tallied 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block.
Luckily for hoops fans, the two talented big men will go toe-to-toe several times every season for the foreseeable future as part of the same conference. If the Spurs qualify for the playoffs this coming year, we could also be treated to their first postseason showdown. Wouldn't that make for riveting TV?
More must-reads:
- Victor Wembanyama projected to win at least two awards in second season
- Stephen Curry pulls notable business move to cash in on Olympic success
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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