Jason Burgos
ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith took Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren to task on Tuesday morning for his seriously underwhelming performance in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs and rival Victor Wembanyama.
On Monday night, NBA fans got a fantastic clash between West powerhouses the Spurs and Thunder. And to the chagrin of Oklahoma City fans, San Antonio was able to score a pivotal Game 1 win. For the most part, all of the game’s top stars shined. However, there was one major omission: Holmgren.
The first-time All-Star who got a massive five-year, $239 million contract before the season had just eight points and seven shots in 41 minutes. Yet, besides his nearly non-existent play on offense, there was the fact that Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault chose to put Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams on the 7-foot-5 Wembanyama often in the fourth quarter and overtime, instead of Holmgren.
It was a nightmarish night for Holmgren in comparison to his alleged rival, Wembanyama. His performance was something ESPN’s Smith took time to talk about on a Tuesday morning episode of First Take. Questioning the personal pride of the four-year veteran.
Stephen A.: ‘Where the heck is Chet Holmgren?’
“Chet Holmgren, what’s up?” Smith began by saying. “We heard all of this noise, all of these years, that ya’ll [Holmgren and Wembanyama] don’t get along or really like each other. I understand he’s 7-foot-5, but bruh, you ain’t 6-foot-5. You’re 7-foot-1. You got skills, you can play. I’m looking at this, and Wemby is doing what he’s doing, but to juxtapose that to Chet Holmgren doing nothing offensively, it’s like damn.
“Then, when you look at Wembanyama closing things in overtime, you can’t have Alex Caruso or a Jalen Williams guarding him [in the paint]. That’s supposed to be Chet Holmgren going, ‘Coach, I got this assignment,'” he added. “It can’t be cats a foot shorter than him trying to guard him in the paint… Where the heck is Chet Holmgren?”
Wembanyama posted 41 points, 24 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and hit some big shots to eke out their 122-115 double overtime win. Smith called Holmgren’s Game 1 plan “alarming” and said the big man must “accept the challenge” of guarding the MVP candidate or they won’t return to the NBA Finals next month.
