Victor Wembanyama didn’t need a 40-point explosion to make his presence felt in the Spurs’ NBA Cup win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. With just 22 points in 20 minutes, he may have delivered the most impactful performance of his young career - a game that felt like a statement, not just to OKC, but to the rest of the league.
The stat that jumps off the page? A +21 in just 20 minutes of action.
That’s not just efficiency - that’s dominance. Wembanyama set the tone early, carrying San Antonio through the first half and helping them topple a Thunder team that’s been playing like one of the league’s elite.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a message.
And then came the fourth quarter, where Wemby’s fingerprints were all over the game’s biggest moments. He sent a Chet Holmgren shot into the stands, forcing a 24-second violation - a momentum-shifting defensive stand that brought the Spurs bench to its feet. Later, when Holmgren missed a pair of crucial free throws, Wembanyama didn’t hold back, celebrating the misfires with the kind of passion that shows just how much this matchup meant.
Ever since their battle for Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, Wembanyama and Holmgren have been linked - two unicorns with length, skill, and sky-high ceilings. The NBA world has been quick to label them as the league’s next great rivalry. But if you ask Wemby, that’s not how he sees it.
He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s certainly not afraid to shift the spotlight. When asked about the Thunder, Wembanyama didn’t single out Holmgren - instead, he pointed to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, calling him the best player in the league.
That’s where his focus is. Not on personal matchups, but on beating the best.
"I'm just glad to be part of something that's growing to be so beautiful and...so pure and ethical," Wembanyama said postgame, a subtle jab at OKC’s physical style - a style that’s drawn criticism from some corners of the fan base.
Before the game, he doubled down on that team-first mentality: “The MVP is in that court, the reigning MVP, so he is our main focus. Anybody is hard to guard when you have to help on the MVPs.”
But let’s be honest - rivalry or not, there’s a competitive fire burning between Wembanyama and Holmgren. They play the same position.
They’re both long, skilled, and built like they were created in a basketball lab. And yet, there’s a difference - a gap that’s growing more obvious every time they share the floor.
Wembanyama’s not just a rising star - he’s the star in San Antonio. The franchise cornerstone.
The guy who’s expected to lead the Spurs back to championship relevance. Holmgren?
He’s a key piece, no doubt, but he’s playing behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams in OKC’s pecking order. That’s not a knock - it’s just reality.
If Wembanyama seems dismissive of the rivalry narrative, it might be because he doesn’t see Holmgren as his peer. He’s chasing greatness, not comparisons.
Think about it this way - did LeBron James ever entertain comparisons to Rip Hamilton? Both were stars in the 2000s, but only one was the face of a franchise, the engine of a dynasty.
The comparison, while flattering to some, misses the mark.
That’s the space Wembanyama is carving out for himself. He’s not here to be one of the best among his peers - he’s here to redefine what’s possible at his position. And if that means brushing off the idea of a one-on-one rivalry, so be it.
Call it confidence, call it edge, call it whatever you want. But if this chip on Wemby’s shoulder is what fuels him, Spurs fans won’t be complaining.