Will Chet Holmgren’s Elite Finishing Hold Up Against Victor Wembanyama’s Rim Protection?

Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanayama (Photo by Imagn Images)

Will Chet Holmgren’s Elite Finishing Hold Up Against Victor Wembanyama’s Rim Protection?

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Afshan Khan | Last updated May 18, 2026 3:36 PM ET

One of the best playoff series of the 2025-26 NBA season is on the horizon as the Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing to face the San Antonio Spurs in the conference finals. Fans and analysts alike are buzzing with excitement, especially when it comes to the pivotal matchups featuring stars like Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren.

One of the hottest debates focusing on this series is whether Chet Holmgren’s elite finishing abilities can stand tall against Victor Wembanyama’s dominant rim protection.

Recent insights from NBA Base reveal that Holmgren struggled with his offense against the Spurs earlier in the season, averaging just 10.5 points per game on 39% shooting—his second-lowest output against any team. However, Chet has been a force in the postseason, hitting a staggering 97% of his attempts within 5 feet.

Chet Holmgren averaged just 10.5 PPG on 39% shooting against the Spurs this season, his 2nd lowest marks against any opponent.

While Chet is shooting 97% inside 5 feet this postseason, Victor Wembanyama is holding opponents to just 28% at the rim. pic.twitter.com/OfEmaYJZJd
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) May 18, 2026

On the other end, Wembanyama has been a nightmare for opponents, limiting them to just 28% shooting at the rim. The Spurs vs. Thunder conference finals series will be one to watch, as both teams are dominating contenders for the title this season.

REPORT: Victor Wembanyama Seen As The League’s Best

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the spotlight after clinching the 2026 NBA MVP award, marking his second consecutive win with an impressive 83 first-place votes. This achievement makes him just the 14th player in NBA history to earn back-to-back MVPs.

While this is a huge honor for SGA, it has ignited a lively debate among the league. Many argue that Victor Wembanyama deserves the MVP more, with John Hollinger noting that there’s a growing consensus that Wemby may have already surpassed Nikola Jokic and SGA as the league’s top player.

“One of my missions at the NBA Draft Combine was to ask execs from the other 29 teams if they thought Wemby had supplanted Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić as the league’s best player. Mostly, I was met with chortles and nods,” via The Athletic.

Many around the league believe Victor Wembanyama has already surpassed Nikola Jokić and back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the league’s best player, per @johnhollinger

“One of my missions at the NBA Draft Combine was to ask execs from the other 29 teams if they thought… pic.twitter.com/JiBnf4Nykq
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) May 18, 2026

In the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Wembanyama put up jaw-dropping stats, averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.2 blocks per game. His standout defensive abilities caught the league’s attention, earning him the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award. Remarkably, the Spurs Phenom not only became the youngest player to win this honor but also the first in NBA history to do so unanimously. With such a phenomenal season, the big question is: Was Wemby more deserving of the MVP award than Gilgeous-Alexander?

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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