Tag: Road Trippin’ Show

Chet Holmgren reacts to Victor Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award

Chet Holmgren reacts to Victor Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award.

One of the larger storylines from this past season surrounds the Rookie of the Year race. Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren squared off as the pair had historical first seasons.

The two seven-footers will likely be compared to each other for their entire careers. They headline a new era of modern big men who are elite paint protectors who can handle and shoot the ball. They both led the league in blocks last season.

Their NBA situations also added gas to the flames. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have been rivals for most of the 2010s and will likely reignite that rivalry as both squads ascend to contenders.

Wembanyama won the first battle against Holmgren with the Rookie of the Year award. The latter had his first season after he missed last year recovering from multiple foot surgeries.

Holmgren had a sound response when asked about Wembanyama’s award. He was asked about it on the “Road Trippin'” podcast led by former NBA players Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye.

“To sit here and say ‘If this, if that, talking about situations.’ I guess our situations were different. Like polar opposites,” Holmgren said. “You can come up with 50 pros and cons for each of us on things outside of statistics, like completely random things from who’s on our team, what we’re playing for,  what amount of attention is placed on us.

“You can come up with a million different things for each of us to try and skew decisions, but like at the end of the day, what is the criteria?”

Holmgren used the loaded question to get on his soapbox and critique the arbitrary standards each NBA award possesses during every season. The 22-year-old argues there’s no consistency involved.

“This is my thing with all NBA awards — what is the criteria? It’s all in the eye of the beholder, what Richard Jefferson believes is different than what Channing Frye believes,” Holmgren said. “It just comes down to who has more voters that believe in their side of the criteria I guess. I don’t think Wemby was unfair in winning Rookie of the Year or anything. Credit to him for a great season, and we’re not rookies anymore.”

This is an unsurprisingly mature response by Holmgren. He’s done an excellent job swatting down juicy questions during his time in OKC. It rivals his on-court blocks.

Despite his efforts, Holmgren and Wembanyama will be linked for the rest of their careers. It’ll be appointment viewing when the Thunder and Spurs match up.

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Chet Holmgren excited for additions of Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso

Chet Holmgren excited for additions of Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a successful offseason. With over $30 million to spend in cap space, the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein shore up weaknesses from last season.

After receiving great reviews from pundits, Chet Holmgren stamped his approval on the Thunder’s offseason moves.

In a podcast appearance on “Road Trippin’,” Holmgren told former NBA players Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye why he thinks Hartenstein and Caruso are seamless fits.

“I’m extremely excited. Both very good players with great skill sets,” Holmgren said. “Both have skill sets that complement other skill sets that we have.”

Holmgren also believes both will benefit from their time on the Thunder. They are high-end role players who could see plenty of quality looks because of the gravity OKC’s trio draws.

“We have skill sets that complement what they do too. I think it’s great fits all around,” Holmgren said. “The addition to them opens up more to what we can do.

“Obviously, what we did last year works so I don’t expect us to try to rewrite the whole book this year. You’re always searching to push for your ceiling.”

Instead of sitting on their success from last season, the Thunder took a proactive approach this offseason to strengthen their roster. This has resulted in them being viewed as a title favorite for next season.

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Trey Murphy III would take Chet Holmgren over Victor Wembanyama

“Chet has a little bit of grit to him. You can tell he isn’t soft.”

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The 2023-24 rookie class is headlined by two seven-footers: Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.

Wembanyama went No. 1 by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA draft. Holmgren, who missed the 2022-23 season due to a foot injury, went No. 2 in the 2022 NBA draft.

Both seven-foot centers project to be elite defenders who can handle the ball and score like a guard. The Rookie of the Year race will likely be headlined by the two players.

The eerily similar builds of both players have led to conversations on which of the two is the better player. According to New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, he’d take Holmgren over Wembanyama.

During his appearance on the “Road Trippin’ Show” podcast, Murphy III told Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Allie Clifton that he’d take Holmgren over Wembanyama if he had to choose one for the next year.

“Chet has a little bit of grit to him. You can tell he isn’t soft, that’s the easiest way to say this,” Murphy III. “He plays with a sort of tenacity that bigs need. Also, he’s very skilled — he’s a little more polished than Victor is. I feel like he shoots the ball better.”

This is quite the compliment for Holmgren, given Murphy III will see plenty of both players for the foreseeable future. Despite not playing a game yet, Holmgren continues to get respect from his peers.

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