Chet Holmgren

Victor Wembanyama Has Dominant Performance Against Rookie Of The Year Rival

by

Victor Wembanyama finally got the Spurs back in the win column with a dominant performance over the Thunder. Wembanyama had 28 points, 13 assists, and 5 blocks as San Antonio snapped a five-game losing streak. Furthermore, the win came against Chet Holgren, widely seen as Wembanyama’s closest rival for the Rookie of the Year award. Holgrem had a 23/7/5 night in the double-digit loss to San Antonio. Holgren was originally drafted in 2022. However, he missed the entire 2022-23 season due to injury. Per the NBA rules, this makes the 2023-24 season his rookie year.

“I missed this sh-t,” Wembanyama said after the game, referring to his frustrations about the Spurs’ inability to win this season. Earlier in the week, after dropping a historic 5×5 night, Wembanyama had dismissed comparisons to Michael Jordan. “Did he do it in a win?” Wembanyama had asked, implying he cared more about wins on the board than personal accomplishments. Furthermore, Wembanyama was widely praised for his mentality by various sources around the NBA. The Spurs next host the Pacers on Sunday.

Read More: Giannis Antetokounmpo Calls Victor Wembanyama “Special” After First Matchup

Victor Wembanyama Records First Professional Triple-Double

However, Wembanyama has been making history throughout his rookie year. Back in January, Wembanyama had his first professional triple-double, putting up 16/12/10 against the ailing Detroit Pistons. Furthermore, the 21 minutes and 2 seconds Wembanyama needed to complete the feat made it the second-fastest triple-double of the shot clock era. The 22-point win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Spurs and moved them to 6-30 on the season. Meanwhile, the Pistons fell to 3-35 and extended their then-losing streak to six games.

“Doing it in a win is everything, of course. I didn’t know it was the second fastest in NBA history. It matters to me. I’m not the type to talk for nothing. This is the kind of statement we want to make as a team, and this is type of statement I want to make as a player,” Wembanyama said after the game.

Read More: Victor Wembanyama Reveals His Favorite Off-Court Hobby

[via]

The post Victor Wembanyama Has Dominant Performance Against Rookie Of The Year Rival appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Thunder Fear Chet Holmgren Suffered Injury During Seattle Pr-Am

by
OKC Thunder Fear Chet Holmgren Suffered Injury During Seattle Pr-Am

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-round draft pick Chet Holmgren may have suffered an injury in a Seattle pro-am game this past Saturday. According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Holmgren was injured while guarding LeBron James during the CrawsOver event.

“Chet is in the process of undergoing evaluation and when we have an update, we will communicate,” a spokesman said to Woj.

Additional NBA stars in the game were Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, DeJounte Murray, and Aaron Gordon. The game was canceled in the second quarter due to wet spots on the floor and condensation.

A few highlights from the game are available below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Thunder Fear Chet Holmgren Suffered Injury During Seattle Pr-Am appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Orlando Magic Selects Duke’s Paolo Banchero with No. 1 Pick

by
paolo2 062322

Leading up to the NBA Draft, it was believed the Orlando Magic would use the No. 1 pick to pick Jabari Smith Jr. from Auburn. Instead, they swerved the basketball world and selected Paolo Banchero of Duke.

The No. 2 pick, going to the Oklahoma City Thunder, was Gonzaga Center Chet Holmgren, and Smith Jr. would fall to the Houston Rockets at no. 3.

“I had a feeling, from the information I was being told, that it was just kind of up in the air,” Banchero said to ESPN. “Orlando wasn’t really sure yet, and just to be ready for whatever.

“I didn’t find out, though, that I was actually getting picked until about 20 seconds before the commissioner got on the stage. I didn’t even have time to really think about it or anything. It just kind of happened. I can’t believe it, but I’m ready. I’m ready.”

During his final season at Duke, Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He now joins a young core that features Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr. All players, except Carter Jr., were drafted by the Magic.

To round out the top five, The Sacramento Kings drafted Keegan Murray, and Detroit added Purdue guard Jaden Ivey to their young core.

There were plenty of Draft Night trades. The New York Knicks sent Kemba Walker to the Detroit Pistons, who are expected to buy the guard out. The Philadelphia 76ers traded Danny Green and the No. 23 pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for De’Anthony Melton.

You can get a full recap of the NBA Draft here.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Orlando Magic Selects Duke’s Paolo Banchero with No. 1 Pick appeared first on The Source.