The San Antonio Spurs have made a serious statement this December, sweeping the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-0 in a stretch that’s raised eyebrows across the league-and sparked pointed commentary from former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins. At the center of the conversation? The highly anticipated matchup between two of the league’s most intriguing young bigs: Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
Let’s be clear-this wasn’t just about wins and losses. The Spurs didn’t just beat the Thunder, they outplayed them, outmuscled them, and, in Perkins’ words, “punked” them. And Holmgren, despite showing flashes of his usual versatility, struggled to match the physicality and energy Wembanyama brought to the floor.
Holmgren did manage a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards in the Thunder’s 117-102 Christmas Day loss, but that stat line didn’t tell the whole story. Perkins, speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, didn’t hold back in his assessment of Holmgren’s effort in the matchup.
“I’ve got to get on my boy Chet Holmgren for a minute. He's playing soft in this matchup.
Victor Wembanyama wants the smoke,” Perkins said. “He's ducking that smoke right now-that hard foul that he had, and yelling and clapping at the free throw line.
Chet’s got to come with it next time they play the Spurs. It might be in the postseason, but he’s got to come with it.”
That “hard foul” moment Perkins referenced wasn’t just a physical play-it was a tone-setter. Wembanyama brought a level of intensity that Holmgren, at least in this series, hasn’t matched.
And while it’s unfair to boil a player’s performance down to one narrative, the numbers back up the concern. In three games against San Antonio, Holmgren is averaging 11.3 points on just 41% shooting, including a rough 25% from beyond the arc.
He’s also pulling down 7.3 rebounds per game with just one block per contest-modest numbers for a player known for his two-way upside.
Tuesday’s 130-110 loss may have been Holmgren’s toughest outing yet. He finished with seven points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block-far from the impact the Thunder have come to expect from their rookie big man. Meanwhile, Wembanyama continues to look every bit the generational talent he was billed to be, playing with confidence, aggression, and a growing command of the game.
It wasn’t just Perkins calling out the Thunder, either. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City’s All-Star leader, didn’t sugarcoat things after the back-to-back losses to San Antonio over Christmas.
His message? This isn’t just a bad stretch-it’s a wake-up call.
“We have to get better as a group. You don’t lose to a team three times in a row in a short span without them being better than you,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“We have to get better. Look in the mirror, and that’s everybody from top to bottom, if we want to reach our ultimate goal.”
That’s the kind of accountability you want from your franchise cornerstone. And it’s a reminder that while OKC has looked like one of the West’s most dangerous teams this season, there’s still work to be done-especially if they want to be taken seriously come playoff time.
The Thunder, now 25-6, still sit near the top of the Western Conference, but the Spurs are right on their heels at 23-7. And if this December series is any indication, San Antonio isn’t just a young team with promise-they’re a legitimate threat.
The next time these two teams meet, expect it to feel a little more personal. Wembanyama has already made it clear he’s not interested in comparisons-he’s carving out his own path.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “We have to get better as group. You don’t lose to a team three times in a row in a short span without them being better than you.
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 25, 2025
We have to get better. Look in the mirror, and that’s everybody from top to bottom, if we want to reach our ultimate goal” pic.twitter.com/g6tBBqGhOZ
Holmgren, meanwhile, will have a chance to respond, to raise his level, and to show that this matchup isn’t a one-sided affair. Because if these teams do meet again in the playoffs, the intensity we saw in December might just be a preview of something much bigger.