The OKC Thunder opened up their preseason slate with a doozy. Not only was the 2nd overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft, Chet Holmgren, making his NBA debut after missing all of last year with a Lisfranc Fracture, but the most hyped prospect since LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, was debuting as well.
This quickly became a marquee game for not only Thunder fans but NBA fans at large, as the league put this matchup on NBATV. The schedule makers knew what they were setting up with this preseason clash, and it did not disappoint.
Twitter reacts to Chet Holmgren’s debut against Victor Wembanyama, a rivalry we will see for a long time.
The League went out on a limb, highlighting not only this game in the preseason but also making it a National Televised game in the In-season tournament and placing it on “NBA Rivalry Week.” Well, after just a half of basketball from each player, it is clear that this was the right move from the NBA.
Twitter had a field day with Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama’s debuts, and judging from this game, this will quickly turn into the next great NBA rivalry. Something the association has lacked lately.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren is going to be a really fun rivalry over the decade. pic.twitter.com/HEWlsf9Jr3
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) October 10, 2023
Victor Wembanyama 18 points, 2 steals & a block. Chet Holmgren 21 points, 9 rebounds. In their first half. There’s more than 20 scouts here in OKC, most I’ve ever seen for a preseason game. Everyone on benches is playing it cool but trust me some hearts are racing a bit.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 10, 2023
Chet Holmgren is awesome
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 10, 2023
Chet Holmgren is really good
— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) October 10, 2023
🚨 THE RIVALRY BEGINS TODAY 🚨
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 10, 2023
Chet Holmgren (16 min) and Victor Wembanyama (19 min) put on a SHOW in their preseason debuts 🔥
Who's taking home the ROTY award? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/s8I7oUlGWS
WEMBY FLEXED ON CHET HOLMGREN AFTER THE AND-1 💪 pic.twitter.com/HeYCV7aVVA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 10, 2023
CHET HOLMGREN ALLEY-OOP POSTER pic.twitter.com/jbpFqWpcPJ
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) October 10, 2023
Chet Holmgren cooking today pic.twitter.com/5lbSSYS9jh
— Stan Him Boomer Sooner (Hunter Harjo) (@hunterharjo7) October 10, 2023
The headbutt is an unstoppable move fasho https://t.co/Oaz7Mz8f57
— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) October 10, 2023
How Spurs fans feel watching Victor Wembanyama: pic.twitter.com/hJIsmwY9Da
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) October 10, 2023
I usually don’t make too big of a deal out of exhibition games, but tonight may offer the most historic exhibition game played in OKC since 2008. Tonight, we get our 1st game w/ @ChetHolmgren & the world gets to see Victor Wembanyama for the 1st time in an exhibition game. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/iMg6045Zrz
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) October 9, 2023
I've been living off Chet Summer League highlights for MONTHS.
— Jacob Kniffen (@JacobKniffen) October 10, 2023
Its nice to have new content.
This preseason game has more juice than normal. Just judging from up here, it feels like the NBA called their shot on Chet and Victor being rivals and were right. These two play in the In-Season tournament and Rivalry week this season alone. Many big matches to come.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 10, 2023
The OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs can certainly rekindle an old rivalry with Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama at the center of it for years to come. The next time these two foes will face off will once again be in the Paycom Center, but it will count. Not only for a regular season game, but an in-season tournament game with all eyes on them.