Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren
Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
It’s pretty clear the rest of the NBA has a Victor Wembanyama problem on its hands based on how the former Rookie of the Year has looked at the start of his third season in the league. It seemed like he had some extra motivation to take his game to the next level heading into the year, and we may be able to trace it back to Chet Holgrem.
As was the case with LeBron James, it was going to be hard for Victor Wembanyama to live up to the absurd amount of hype he was surrounded by when the Spurs selected him with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, all signs point to him having a career that will firmly cement his status as a truly generational talent.
There were some concerns that the big man who is currently listed as 7’4″ and 235 pounds would have trouble adjusting to the physicality you have to deal with in the NBA. However, he’s put them to rest with the help of the freakish athleticism that he’s only continued to hone since making his debut.
Wemby spent the offseason hanging out with monks at the Shaolin Temple in China and training with Hakeem Olajuwon, who seems to think the 21-year-old has the potential to be the greatest NBA player of all time.
He’s still in search of his first ring, and based on what one insider has to say, he’s even hungrier to get a title because of someone else who won a championship last season.
Victor Wembanyama is reportedly salty about Chet Holmgren winning a championship before he did
Wembanyama played basketball in France before making the leap to the NBA, and while he didn’t have the chance to face off against Chet Holmgrem during the latter’s time at Gonzaga, the two seven-footers became very well-acquainted with each other while facing off in international tournaments (Holmgren and Team USA eked out a 83-81 victory in the finals at the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup in 2021).
That rivalry was reignited when the two of them made their NBA debut in 2023 (Holmgren missed what would have been his inaugural campaign due to an injury), a season where Wembanayama was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year but Holmgren and the Thunder went 3-1 against the Spurs.
Oklahoma City posted a 2-1 record against San Antonio last year during a season that ended with the Thunder winning the championship, and based on what Marc Spears had to say on NBA Today on Tuesday, Wemby is not thrilled about Holmgren leading him in the title tally.
Marc Spears:
“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship” 👀 pic.twitter.com/E0lACvh2X6
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 27, 2025
The Spurs have only played four games this season, but they’re sitting at 4-0 thanks in no small part to a man who’s already been responsible for a slew of jaw-dropping highlights after seemingly heading into the year with something to prove.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA IS NOT REAL.pic.twitter.com/hkX4zZz77s
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 26, 2025
I’m sure the rest of the NBA is thrilled that Holmgren gave him even more incentive to improve.