Dirk calls out Wemby for dismissing Chet Holmgren question
Victor Wembanyama raised eyebrows before the Spurs’ NBA Cup semifinal against the Thunder when he seemed to brush off a question about his matchup with Chet Holmgren.
And NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t having it.
When asked about what he and Holmgren bring out in each other during their matchups, Wembanyama completely shifted focus to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander instead.
“SGA is the MVP,” Wembanyama said, explaining that defending the Thunder’s star guard was his main concern. He added that helping on Gilgeous-Alexander creates problems for opposing defenses.
Dirk didn’t hold back his disappointment during the pregame coverage.
“I didn’t love his answer about Chet,” Nowitzki said. “I wish he would’ve given him a little credit. To me it’s too swaggy, too dismissive.”
The German legend felt Wembanyama missed an opportunity to acknowledge how much Holmgren has grown as a player.
He pointed out that Chet has developed into a key piece of what looks like a championship-level Thunder team.
Wembanyama and Holmgren are two of the most fascinating young big men in the NBA right now. They’re both unicorns – tall guys who can shoot, handle the ball, and move like guards.
That’s why fans get so excited whenever they face off.
Holmgren has talked about their so-called rivalry before, making it clear it’s just basketball, not personal.
“We both respect each other,” Holmgren has said. “When we’re on the court, we just want to win.”
There’s really no sign of actual bad blood between the two. Nowitzki was just reacting to the way Wembanyama phrased his answer, not suggesting there’s any real conflict.
These two have been competing since their international youth days, and their battles could define the NBA’s next decade.
It’s pretty amazing how every word from these young stars gets picked apart. Whether Wembanyama meant anything by it or not, his comment just added a little extra spice to what’s already becoming one of the league’s most interesting matchups.
As both players continue to develop, fans are hoping the real story will be about their incredible performances, not pregame comments.
