More than one NBA was so excited for Victor Wembanyama's preseason debut on Monday, it wouldn't matter who he was playing against.
The fact that Chet Holmgren was on the opposing side made it as intriguing a matchup as only a preseason game can offer.
Explosive Start of Young Stars
For many fans and pundits, the game did not disappoint. In the first half alone, Holmgren, with 21 points, and Wembanyama, with 18, combined for 39 points on 14-of-19 shooting.
Both hit a pair of three-pointers. Both finished near the rim; Wembanyama with incredible grace for a man of his size, and Holmgren, despite his thinness, with legitimate strength through contact. Both also had a big defensive impact.
Apparently from the spectators, no one warned Wembanyama and Holmgren that this was just a preseason game.
The rising rookie stars put on a show Monday as they each made their NBA debuts. Holmgren's Oklahoma City Thunder beat Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs, 122-121. But the final score wasn't the topic of interest here.
The focus was clearly on the performance of the 7-foot-plus stars in their first NBA court showdown.
Both lived up to expectations, showcasing their unprecedented combination of size, shooting, skill and athleticism in a showdown in the post and beyond.
The first quarter was a showcase, as Wembanyama racked up 10 points and a block, hitting four of his first five shots.
His block after Jalen Williams' layup attempt showed how difficult it will be to score near the rim for potential scorers in San Antonio.
Holmgren countered with 14 points and seven rebounds in the first quarter. He showed his range with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer on the wing. Holmgren repeatedly showed his versatility by grabbing rebounds on defense and then holding onto the ball to lead the Thunder's fast-paced offense.
For a 2.26m guy to do this and in this way is... I don't even know what it is🤯
Unbelievable about Wembanyamapic.twitter.com/NFc37jCIOV
- NBA - Jordi de Mas (@demas6Basket) October 10, 2023
The Numbers Paint A Promising Future
Midway through the first quarter, Wembanyama stripped the ball from a penetrating Cason Wallace, then raced to the other basket.
Malaki Branham picked up the loose ball and then connected with a moving Wembanyama at midcourt en route to a dunk in transition.
Holmgren responded by driving coast-to-coast for a foul basket. In the second quarter, Wembanyama beat Holmgren with an acrobatic shot at the basket after driving from beyond the three-point arc.
The pair then traded consecutive three-pointers from the top of the key. In the end, Wembanyama amassed 20 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block, and shot 8-of-13 from the field and 2-of-5 from the three-point line. He did it all in 19 minutes of play.
Holmgren recorded 21 points, nine rebounds and a block, while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and hitting both of his three-point attempts. He did his damage in 16 minutes, as both players sat most of the second half.
It was the kind of performance from both players that should have the NBA and its fans excited. Wembanyama is finally in the NBA after years of anticipation as the most anticipated prospect since LeBron James in 2003.
Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, is making his delayed debut after a Lisfranc injury that cost him his entire rookie season.
Their respective teams, which have surrounded them with young talent, expect them to be at the center of a Western Conference rivalry for years to come.
If this is any indication, the NBA is in good hands for what looks to be a bright future full of young stars.
