Chet Holmgren was exposed by ‘unguardable’ Wemby and NBA’s biggest rivalry was a Game 1 knockout

It has already gotten to that point.

Victor Wembanyama was the best basketball player in the universe in Game 1, while Oklahoma City’s supposed $239 million answer was invisible on the hardwood.

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Wemby, Alien, The Extraterrestrial — call the 22-year-old from France whatever you want.

Just know that no one else on planet Earth scored 41 points on 14-of-25 shooting, sank 12 of 13 free throws, grabbed 24 rebounds, recorded three blocks and only committed one turnover in 49 minutes of double-overtime victory on Monday … and stands 7ft 4in while being a proud Paris Saint-Germain supporter.

And know that Thunder ‘big man’ Chet Holmgren was punked by Wemby in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

“A great effort — from everybody,” said Wembanyama, winning again by shining a light on Spurs teammates Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie.

It’s still a little to early to talk about another small-market dynasty in San Antonio.

The Spurs have five golden trophies, and being graced with David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Wemby from 1989 through 2026 is already enough good luck.

But hit ‘play’ on Spurs 122, Thunder 115 highlights from Texas and Oklahoma to England and France, and it’s impossible not to start dreaming of the next chosen one walking on air.

The Alien was in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar land in Game 1, becoming the youngest player in NBA history with at least 40 points and 20 boards in a playoff game, and moving the greatest center of all-time into second place.

Wemby also drilled a 27-foot 3-pointer like he was a super-tall Stephen Curry, then had the inner confidence and external power to understand he didn’t need to rely on 3s.

Wembanyama scored 41 points on the road against the NBA’s reigning champion — with back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sharing the hardwood — but only took two 3s from the opening tip until the end of the second OT.

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That’s a move straight out of the 1980s, and the electric beauty of Wemby in Game 1 strengthened the growing belief in the return of ‘ethical basketball’ in the NBA.

“Wemby man … unbelievable,” tweeted Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, as the Spurs grabbed a 1-0 series lead and stole home-court advantage.

“Wemby. Wow,” tweeted Ben Stiller, briefly forgetting that he’s a New York Knicks fan and is supposed to be focused on the Eastern Conference finals.

“WEMBY IS F***ING RIDICULOUS,” tweeted guard Dejounte Murray, who spent five years playing with the Spurs.

Now compare all that to this: eight points, 2-of-7 shooting, eight rebounds, -7 point-differential in 41 minutes.

OKC’s 7ft 1in answer was almost worthless in Game 1, and Holmgren was bench-able on Monday while Wemby smoothly floated from baseline to baseline and kept making the rim shake.

“WEMBY HATES CHET HOLMGREN,” one fan tweeted. “PUT HIM THROUGH THE RIM.”

NBA obsessives are convinced that Wemby can’t stand Holmgren and that the two have a simmering rivalry in their early 20s.

“Chet has been tryna duck smoke ever since but Wemby will never stop haunting him,” one fan tweeted.

The Alien in December seemingly took a shot at Holmgren, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2022 out of Gonzaga.

“At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison between us,” Wembanyama said.

There definitely wasn’t in Game 1, which left SGA apologizing on the night he was handed his second consecutive MVP award by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

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“We just got to be better — me, in particular,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I have to be better, especially against a team of this caliber. Nothing more than that.”

Wemby deserved to win the MVP award this season, and rightfully was named Defensive Player of the Year.

“Yeah, for sure,” said Wembanyama, when asked if it was ‘personal’ after watching Gilgeous-Alexander win the MVP.

He’s answered years of hype — and a frustrating season-ending injury in 2024-25 — by becoming the best international player since Luka Doncic.

“Coming back from what I came back from, it’s the best example that life is short,” Wembanyama told ESPN after recovering from deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in his right shoulder.

“A career is short. There’s no time to waste. … That moment, I remember clearly, it was like five minutes of total breakdown. Obviously crying and sadness, maybe feeling the fragility of life and health.

“Basketball wasn’t my priority all of a sudden, as it had been for years and years of my life. I needed time to find myself again and then to get better.”

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In a series that is already showcasing what the NBA can become without LeBron James, the Alien was even better than imagined in Game 1.

It’s already that time for Wemby.

The only remaining question is how much longer until the best player in the NBA wins his first Finals ring.

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