Chet Holmgren Outduels Victor Wembanyama in Preseason Opener

Rookies Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama went blow for blow in their respective preseason openers, with Holmgren eventually coming away with the win.

The NBA saw unprecedented play on Monday night, with unicorn 7-footers Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama facing off in a preseason bout between the Thunder and Spurs.

The Paycom Center crowd toggled between elation and disappointment as the two traded blows.

A Holmgren block here. A Wembanyama three-pointer there. The Holmgren answer.

By the time it was all said and done, 7-foot-1 Holmgren and 7-foot-4 Wembanyama had put together two special quasi-debuts.

Wembayama — selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft to much praise from draft experts and league executives — posted 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. He hit two of his five three-point attempts and played 19 minutes in total.

Holmgren — taken second overall by OKC in 2022 — awsedxrcboasted 21 points in just 16 minutes, missing only three of his 10 shots and tacking on nine rebounds, one assists and one block in the process. Holmgren didn’t play the second half, but ultimately came away with the win in the two’s first meeting in nearly 800 days at the 2021 FIBA U19’s.

After missing his entire initial season due to a Lisfranc foot injury, Holmgren will now compete for accolades alongside the 2023 NBA Draft class.

Holmgren may have, narrowly, won the battle. But Wembanyama is sure to make this upcoming season's war for the Rookie of the Year race a tough contest. 

Regardless, watching both throughout their debut NBA seasons is sure to yield plenty of exciting moments.

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