In the post-2010 era, Stephen Curry and LeBron James are the heir to the biggest rivalry. The two superstars have clashed against each other in four straight finals from 2015 to 2018. Curry withstood the storm three times, whereas James could nab just one against him in the Finals. However, that singular championship remains unique in two regards. The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors which nabbed the best record ever 73-9 in the history of the league that season. They were on a roll in the Finals too, up 3-1. However, James and Co. pulled off the biggest heist in postseason history.

Therefore, when these two have clashed, several record books have taken a huge tumble. They also clashed in last season’s Playoffs where James and Davis received great help from the role players. They aided King James in defeating Curry and the Warriors in six games. The Warriors had one of their worst seasons in terms of chemistry, but their sharpshooter still put big-time numbers to drag them to a Western Semis berth and then help win two games.

This great rivalry sparks one another question. What is the next big rivalry in the NBA? Will it be Chet Holmgren vs Victor Wembanyama?

The era of Centers is alive and kicking

The last five MVP awards have gone to players with a dominant inside game. The big man position has taken the big honors and a couple of titles too. And now to continue the trend, Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren are touted as the next MVP-caliber players. Both are wiry and while Wemby is about 7’4” tall, Holmgren is also a seven-footer at 7’1”. Both players can handle the ball and are too quick at their positions. Their first step is reminiscent of some of the highly endowed offensive weapons in history. 

We got a snippet of the match-up between them when the San Antonio Spurs clashed Oklahoma City Thunder in their first NBA Preseason games. While the preseason games are not the true picture of the projected Regular Season results, we still have various guys fighting for a squad and it can lead to close competition. In this game, the Thunder won 122:121. Interestingly, the point differential between the top game scorers was the same as their team’s difference in the total. Holmgren clinched 21 points and Wemby notched 20.

The 2022 draftee also had four more rebounds than the Center, who is a couple of inches taller than him. This was like watching the flashes of his brilliance during the 2022 Summer League when he lit up both ends.

The Rookie of the Year race

Wemby also had a terrific Preseason debut and he will continue to grow at a high rate. As a rookie, he appears to be the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. However, Chet Holmgren, who was drafted last year, didn’t play in a single Regular Season last season. Thus, he will also be entering as a rookie. This race for Rookie of the Year honors is already inserting intrigue into the future match-ups between the two. However, the NBA season is long and unpredictable. Both players are injury-prone and can see an early load management plan.

Holmgren missed all the last season and the Spurs’ new hope can also sit out multiple games. This is not the first time we have seen load management for a rookie. Like Holmgren, Ben Simmons sat out the entire 2016-17 season but then became the Rookie of the Year during the 2017-18 season.

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Therefore, if both players appear in 60 games, this race has more intrigue. However, if even one of them misses more than half of the games, the comparison won’t give the true picture. 

Once the Regular Season rolls in, we will learn how both franchises manage their stars of the future. In terms of skillset, Wemby and Chetmate, both players are too quick for Centers and too big for the rest of the positions. Guarding both will require complex double-teaming and switching. A lot depends upon their rosters too.

Holmgren enters a system that is on the verge of the playoffs. Last season, the Thunder won 40 and lost 42 games. Analysts thought that the young team overdid the expectations. He will have two brilliant playmakers at the perimeter. Both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey can pass on that thing. Thus, open lanes and open shooting spots can be the norm. The big question is how he will respond to bruising big men who know how to get away with contact.

To thrive next season, the Franchise will have to ensure that the 7’1” Center’s body isn’t breaking apart. More than load management, they will need to shift their focus on the landings and the conditioning involved to sustain a high level of play.

Victor Wembanyama will inherit a Spurs franchise that is starving for wins. The team does trust Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, but they desperately needed a huge presence. The Alien provides them with such a skillset and he can develop along the two Spurs’ favorites. Jeremy Sochan can form a strong defensive frontline alongside the riveting young prospect. Therefore, the climb to the Rookie of the Year honors is a wonderful storyline for the next season.

A rivalry that is a climb to the summit

To count as a rivalry, these players will have to face each off in big games, especially in the Playoffs. This is because, consider this, Curry and James have faced each other in 28 games during the Playoffs, and 22 times in the Finals. On the flip side, in the 80s, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird clashed 18 times (all in the finals) which is regarded as the greatest rivalry. This stat alone regarding Steph vs. LBJ means that to be even a shadow of this rivalry, the two budding superstars need to clash at least once during Conference Semis. That is why, evaluating their rivalry this early surely has its own pitfalls.

But one thing is for sure, consensus is clear upon the greatness hidden in these two emerging faces of the league. The way they played during the Preseason implies that they are ready for prime time. But with consensus on greatness also comes huge responsibilities. However, the NBA fanbase is highly demanding. Just making the Playoffs won’t do it. Yeah, it will in the early years. But once these players go into the middle of their career, pressure to win a title will only mount.

At any rate, considering their impressive skill sets, both players will be a joy to watch. And during the upcoming Regular Season, the viewership of both these franchises will increase when they clash. As they prepare for more tussles in the Western Conference, the NBA’s present and future keep crushing the small-ball narrative dominating the scene.

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