Dec 27, 2025
3 min read
With 3 wins over OKC in 13 days, the Spurs may have found their newest NBA rival.
OKC Thunder's rival in Wimbe's rookie Spurs.The NBA is better for it
The NBA is at its best when there is rivalry and players hate being around the other team.
Think Bulls-Pistons, Lakers-Celtics or Heat-Knicks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that dominated the first two months of the season by going 23-1, found their foil in the San Antonio Spurs.
In the past 13 days, the Spurs, relative upstarts who could be ahead of schedule on their way to a legitimate title run, have beaten the Thunder three times.The losses came on a neutral floor (in the NBA Finals in Las Vegas), on the road in San Antonio and at home in Oklahoma City.
And best of all for canoeists, there's this float that floats under everything.
Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was a big catalyst for that.Weeks shy of turning 22, Wembanyama's personality has been in full bloom since the start of this season.In the press, Wembanyama is direct and honest, if not completely unfiltered.Not surprisingly, the Thunder have not been off the mark.
When a reporter asked Wembanyama in French about the rivalry between him and Oklahoma City big man Chet Holmgren, Wembanyama did not respond.
"No, I don't think about that," Wembanyama said, according to the reporter's translation."At least from a basketball perspective, there is no comparison (between us)."
Now, something may have been lost in translation, and Vembanyama may have been trying to make a difference in play, but the body language and literal translation during the exchange suggest a deep revenge.
Vembayama actually uses a common phrase in France: "or pas photo," an abbreviation of "il n'y a pas photo," which translates directly to "no picture."In terms of horse racing, the photo refers to the end of the photo and basically announces: it's not close.
Then, during their Christmas Day game on Thursday, December 25, what little was visible spilled onto the field.
After Holmgren finished his work on the paint, he pumped it several times to get Vembanyama into the air.it worked.Once Holmgren saw Vembanyama out of position, he attempted a shot and was fouled.
However, it was Vimbanyama who closed with force.
That was not all.Holmgren missed both free throws, but after each miss the court microphones chanted "Hell yeah" to Wim Bunia in protest.
It was not at all different from the one at Wembanyama on December 13 when he missed a free throw during the semi-final of the Holmgren Cup.
This is next level trolling.
Things between Wembanyama and Holmgren seem special.The two have often been compared for their size, shooting and dribbling skills, but have been competing on the FIBA circuit since their youth.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Holmgren was asked if he and Vembanyama had actually talked.
"It's not a full sentence, I don't think," Holmgren said, before adding that people shouldn't take that the wrong way.
But this rivalry is fueled not only by obvious hatred, but also by a fascinating paradox in basketball.
Wembanyama is the best defensive team in the NBA.His size and presence have forced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams (both of whom are having success in the paint) to change their drawings.San Antonio's trio of speedy guards - De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper - bring speed and disrupt Oklahoma City's excellent transition defense.
Put another way: The Spurs are the only team that poses unique challenges to Oklahoma City's dominance.
"You don't lose three straight to one team in a short amount of time if they're not better than you," Gilgeous-Alexander said Thursday.
The Thunder know they're ready, and they know that — like the defending champions — they'll aim to score again.Oklahoma City is well coached and has deep talent.They know their style of basketball. Expect the Thunder to adjust before their next meeting against the Spurs on January 13 in Oklahoma City.
But you better believe that San Antonio does not accept complacency.
"I learned a lot," Wembanyama said Thursday."This is like a playoff series. We played them three times ... so we learned a lot on the tactical side, but I don't want to say too much about it. I want to keep something for ourselves.
"But we must have intelligence, of course, after playing so much."
The obvious takeaway here is that these two will meet in the playoffs.
NBA fans can only hope.
