Numbers show why Chet Holmgren comparison to Victor Wembanyama no longer works

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Numbers show why Chet Holmgren comparison to Victor Wembanyama no longer works

Originally posted on HITC | By Filipe Guedes | Last updated May 25, 2026 4:32 PM ET

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have been linked since the moment the Spurs star entered the NBA.

Both were billed as new-age seven-footers, big men with shooting, rim protection and the skills to shift how the position is played.

But the Western Conference Finals have exposed how wide the gap has grown. Wembanyama’s numbers are in another league, while Holmgren’s form has dipped.

Victor Wembanyama outproducing both of OKC’s big men

Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images

Across the first four games against Oklahoma City, StatMuse has Wembanyama averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and three blocks.

That scoring total is more than Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein combined, with the Thunder pair averaging 18.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 blocks together.

While the rebounding and passing numbers are similar, the difference in scoring and rim protection shows why Wembanyama has commanded the matchup.

Holmgren’s drop-off has been clear. He averaged 20 points and 9.8 rebounds against the Lakers in the previous round and looked like a major playoff presence.

Against San Antonio, though, he has struggled to have the same impact, while Hartenstein has been asked to take on more physical work inside.

That does not mean Holmgren is not a top young big man. It just underlines the problem with treating this as an even rivalry.

The Frenchman is not just ahead in the comparison. Through four games, he is surpassing the output of OKC’s center rotation on his own.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: