Rashad McCants Calls Out Dirk Nowitzki Amid Wemby-Chet Debate, and NBA Fans Aren’t Having It
In today’s NBA, hot takes are a dime a dozen - but every now and then, one hits a nerve. Former NBA guard Rashad McCants found that out the hard way after taking a sharp jab at Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, and the basketball world wasn’t exactly lining up to co-sign.
The moment came on the heels of the NBA Cup semifinals, where the spotlight was squarely on the second game of the night: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs.
Not just because it was a battle between two of the league’s most exciting young cores, but because Victor Wembanyama was back on the floor after missing time with an injury. And when Wemby plays, people watch.
Now, the Thunder and Spurs are in different places right now. OKC is coming off a championship run, while San Antonio is still trying to climb out of the lottery.
But that hasn’t stopped comparisons from swirling - especially between Wembanyama and Thunder big man Chet Holmgren. Both are long, agile, shot-blocking unicorns with guard skills, and both are viewed as potential faces of the league.
But if you ask Wemby, he’s not too concerned about the comparisons. In a recent sit-down with Taylor Rooks, the 7-foot-4 French phenom was asked about facing Holmgren.
His response? He pivoted the focus.
“The MVP’s on that court, he is our main focus,” Wembanyama said. “Anybody is hard to guard when you have to help on the MVP.”
It was a subtle brush-off - not a direct shot at Holmgren, but certainly not a compliment either. And that’s where Dirk Nowitzki stepped in.
The Hall of Famer and current Amazon Prime analyst wasn’t exactly thrilled with Wemby’s tone.
“I didn’t love [Wemby’s] answer about Chet,” Nowitzki said. “I wish he would’ve given him a little credit. To me it’s too swaggy, too dismissive.”
Nowitzki’s critique was measured - the kind of veteran perspective you’d expect from someone who’s seen the league evolve over multiple eras. But McCants didn’t see it that way. He took to X (formerly Twitter) and fired back at Dirk in a way that turned heads for all the wrong reasons.
“I don’t like [Dirk Nowitzki] either! Talking about say it this way, say it that way … Chet soft.
Just like you!” McCants posted.
It was an unexpected and unusually personal shot at one of the most respected players in NBA history - a 14-time All-Star, league MVP, and Finals MVP who redefined the power forward position and led Dallas to its only championship.
Naturally, fans didn’t let it slide.
One user tried to keep things civil, commenting:
“You are becoming unlikable lately, what’s happening?
You didn’t use to portray yourself like this. Hopefully it’s just a TV, podcast, entertainment act you are putting on.”
Others were more direct:
“You were out of the league in 4 years, you’re soft too.”
McCants has never shied away from controversy. He’s built a bit of a post-playing career around bold opinions and unfiltered commentary.
But this time, it feels different. When you go after someone like Dirk - a player who’s universally admired not just for his stats but for his loyalty, humility, and impact on the game - you’re going to face some pushback.
And while debate is part of what makes the NBA community so vibrant, there’s a line between critique and disrespect. Disagreeing with Dirk’s take on Wemby is one thing. Calling him “soft” - especially given the physical and emotional toll he endured over two decades in the league - just doesn’t hold water.
As for the Wemby-Chet conversation, that’s far from over. These two are going to be linked for years to come, and if we’re lucky, we’ll get plenty of head-to-head matchups to settle the debate on the court.
But the sideline noise? That’s another story.