There has been a lot of talk about Chet Holmgren “Rivalry” with Spurs recruit Victor Wembanyama Throughout the NBA season. The comparisons began way back when the two men faced each other on the international stage, and they continued through the end of the NBA season.
Those comparisons and conversations only increased when Holmgren’s rookie season was delayed due to injury to face Wembanayama’s, and the two players found themselves battling for the coveted NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Sure, Wembanyama won the award with one of the greatest rookie seasons of all time, but Holmgren held his own throughout the regular season. Ultimately, his role on the best team in a crowded Western Conference was his best argument. He anchored a top-tier defense and scored the second-most points of an elite Thunder team. Wembanyama, meanwhile, put up excellent numbers on one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Holmgren will likely have to answer questions about his fellow rookie for the rest of his career — and vice versa — but that’s how NBA media works. Earlier this week, he was asked if he should have won Rookie of the Year on the Road Trippin’ Show, and his response was thoughtful.
“That’s such a difficult and meaningful question,” Holmgren said. “Sitting here and saying, ‘If this, if that,’ and talking about situations, I guess our situations were different. Like polar opposites. You can come up with 50 pros and cons for each of us on things outside of statistics, like completely random things about who’s on our team, what we’re playing for, how much attention is paid to us. You can come up with a million different things for each of us to try to skew decisions, but at the end of the day, what are the criteria?”
When it comes to NBA awards, the criteria is always a topic of debate. Is it the best overall rookie or the most valuable rookie? Holmgren made the biggest difference on the best team, but Wembanyama was one of the best statistical rookies of all time.
“That’s my take on all NBA awards. What’s the criteria? It depends on the viewer, what Richard Jefferson thinks is different than what Channing Frye thinks,” Holmgren said. “It just depends on who has more voters who believe in their side of the criteria, I guess. I don’t think Wemby was unfair in winning Rookie of the Year or anything. He deserves credit for a great season, and we’re not rookies anymore.”
The rivalry will continue as the Spurs progress and the Thunder continue their title chase. Both Holmgren and Wembanyama have the potential to one day be among the best players in the NBA.
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