Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren: Rookie of the Year race is over, but their rivalry is just beginning

On Thursday, Wemby swatted away any last thought that Holmgren could challenge for the award

Victor Wembanyama had just drained his fifth 3-pointer of the night when Chet Holmgren tried to answer back by going one-on-one for a pull-up jumper on the other end. 

Rookie of the Year rivals and co-stars of what has all the makings of a blockbuster rivalry set to play out over the next decade-plus, Wembanyama and Holmgren had each surpassed the hype of the matchup – just as they have both, somehow, exceeded the hype of their rookie campaigns in general. 

Wembanyama had 28 points. Holmgren had 23, and was going for two more. He went left, crossed over between his legs and stepped back. Against any other defender, the move would've cleared more than enough space for a seven-footer to get off a clean shot. But Wembanyama and his eight-foot wingspan snuffed it out like the last embers of a campfire.