Holmgren crumbles against Wemby: Perkins calls him out
Nightmare numbers for Chet Holmgren against the Spurs: just 8 points in Game 1 and criticism over allegedly avoiding direct matchups with Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs’ double-overtime win in Game 1 left behind a series of harsh verdicts, and the loudest one centered around the highly anticipated clash between two of the NBA’s future superstar big men.
While Victor Wembanyama delivered a legendary performance with 41 points and 24 rebounds, Chet Holmgren endured what was, at best, a deeply disappointing night.
His 8 points and 8 rebounds in such a crucial game prompted ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins to launch a direct attack during SportsCenter, accusing the Oklahoma City star of outright avoiding head-to-head battles with his rival.
Can he at least try? That’s the first thing I’m asking: can he try? Because tonight I saw him running from the matchup. I saw him guarding other guys on the perimeter. I barely saw him defending Wemby one-on-one, and he knows this rivalry goes all the way back to high school
Kendrick Perkins
According to the former NBA center, the Thunder’s chances in this series depend entirely on Holmgren turning the matchup into something personal.
If they want any chance at all, Chet has to take it personally, especially on the defensive end. He needs to prove why he was one of the finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. He has to respond because Wemby has no intention of slowing down. Wembanyama doesn’t like you. And youneed to start feeling the exact same way about him
Kendrick Perkins
Holmgren’s season numbers against Wemby
Perkins’ criticism finds some support in the season’s track record. While Holmgren did block Wembanyama at the end of regulation – a play that helped OKC force overtime at 108-108 – his overall impact was dramatically lower than that of his counterpart.
Across their previous four regular-season matchups, Holmgren never outscored the French star, averaging a modest 10.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game against the Spurs. That negative trend resurfaced at the biggest moment of the season.
Holmgren’s struggles carried extra weight for the Thunder, especially on a night where the entire offense struggled to find rhythm and flow.
Before this disappointing Game 1, the former Gonzaga standout had been leading OKC throughout the playoffs with impressive averages of 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 60% shooting from the field. And that’s exactly the level of efficiency and aggressiveness Oklahoma City needs him to return to immediately.
If the Thunder want to even the series in Game 2, a normal team response won’t be enough. They’ll need Chet Holmgren to finally accept the challenge against his personal nemesis.