Several people in the NBA circle and its fandom believe that a rivalry exists between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. After all, there are plenty of similarities and parallels between the two stars. However, Wembanyama himself has shut down these discussions.
Victor Wembanyama does not think there’s a rivalry between him and Chet Holmgren
They’re both lean 7-footers, both capable of sending shots back, and both can score on all three levels. Plus, they both played their rookie season in 2023-24. These are just similarities between them, and not taking into account the parallels between the teams they play for.
It’s hard not to compare Wembanyama and Holmgren, and from a strictly basketball perspective, they seem like the perfect rivals.
Despite all these and the things that fans and media say, Wembanyama doesn’t seem to think that they are rivals. According to Maxime Aubin, he asked the San Antonio Spurs stalwart if he considers Holmgren to be a rival.
“No, I don’t think about that. At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison between us,” Wembanyama said.
I asked Victor Wembanyama (in French) whether he considers there to be any rivalry between him and Chet Holmgren, and he was pretty clear:
“No, I don’t think about that. At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison (between us)”.
— Maxime Aubin (@MaximeAubin1) December 24, 2025
Statistically, Wembanyama has the edge over Holmgren. In the 133 games he’s played in through three seasons, he’s averaging 22.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks. Meanwhile, Holmgren, through 138 games in the same span, has 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.
In terms of personal accolades, the Spurs star also surpasses Holmgren. One was named Rookie of the Year in 2024, while the other was the runner-up. Wembanyama was named an All-Star last season, while Holmgren is still hunting for his first one.
What Holmgren has going for him is that he’s already an NBA champion. Some might argue that this is a team accolade that he couldn’t have won himself. However, most people will tell you that winning a championship is the pinnacle of NBA accomplishments.
Holmgren was no slouch during that 2025 title run either. In 23 postseason games, he averaged 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while averaging 29.8 minutes per game. His contributions were key to winning the title.
Aside from being considered rivals, their respective teams are also being pitted against each other, and for good reason. Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder have ended up on the losing side just four times this season — two coming against the Spurs.
The first game was played on Dec. 13 during the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals. Wembanyama posted 22 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, playing a key role in the 111-109 win; Holmgren contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, and one assist.
The second time was on Tuesday, when the Spurs won 130-110. This time, Wembanyama scored only 12 points and grabbed five rebounds; Holmgren fared no better with seven points and three boards.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see these two battle as well. As a Christmas Day treat, these squads are set to face each other on Dec. 25 as part of the league’s five-game slate.
