Footage Surfaces Of Victor Wembanyama Crashing Out After Losing To Chet Holmgren — Proves Just How Much He Hates The OKC Thunder Big-Man

The video traced the tension back to July 11, 2021, during the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup final in Riga. Wembanyama nearly carried France to its first title that day. The then 17-year-old finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks against Team USA.

Holmgren led the American side and later won tournament MVP honors after the United States escaped with an 83-81 win. Wembanyama fouled out with 2:42 left in the game and immediately showed frustration on the bench. Cameras caught him chewing on a towel before throwing it away in anger after the final buzzer.

Fans now use that footage as evidence that the problem never got solved.

Some of Wembanyama’s own comments also pointed to it. In December, he told, “No, I don’t think about that. At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison between us.”

After San Antonio beat Oklahoma City in the NBA Cup Finals earlier this season, Wembanyama praised the Spurs for playing “pure, ethical basketball.” He also suggested Holmgren benefits from the attention that reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws on defense.

“The reigning MVP is on that court, so he’s our main focus,” Wembanyama said. “Anybody is hard to guard when you have to help on the MVP.”

Holmgren has taken a calmer approach publicly. “The game definitely changes anytime a very unique player comes into the game,” Holmgren said. “He does things that other lineups don’t replicate.”

Neither player has openly called out the other. Still, fans continue to treat every game, every quote, and now every viral clip as another instance in a growing feud between two of the NBA’s biggest young stars.