Thunder-Spurs Opener Already Belongs to Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder will begin their season against the opponent responsible for ending the last one. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama will command attention, Tuesday night should belong to Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren struggled to impose himself during Oklahoma City’s Western Conference Finals loss to San Antonio. Wembanyama controlled the paint, disrupted driving lanes and appeared to make Holmgren second-guess opportunities that he would normally attack. One regular-season game cannot erase that series, but it can reveal whether Holmgren learned from it.

That makes this more than a talented-big-man matchup. The Thunder do not need Holmgren to outscore Wembanyama or transform opening night into a personal contest. They need him to play decisively. If the shot is available, he must take it. If San Antonio uses Wembanyama as a roaming defender, Holmgren must force him away from the rim through movement, confident shooting and quick decisions.

Oklahoma City should also challenge San Antonio with its size. Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to start beside Holmgren, while rookie Aday Mara gives Mark Daigneault another 7-footer capable of changing the physical shape of the matchup. Mara should not be expected to solve Wembanyama in his NBA debut, but even a short, productive appearance could give the Thunder another option they lacked last spring.

The backcourt battle will matter just as much. Newly extended Cason Wallace has the difficult assignment of helping contain De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Wallace’s pressure could prevent San Antonio’s guards from delivering the ball to Wembanyama in his preferred locations.

Still, Holmgren remains the player capable of changing the entire rivalry. Gilgeous-Alexander will create offense regardless of the opponent. Jalen Williams should provide the secondary scoring Oklahoma City missed when injuries affected last season’s playoff run. The greater question is whether Holmgren can become aggressive enough to punish San Antonio for concentrating so much defensive attention elsewhere.

Nobody should overreact if Oklahoma City loses its opener. San Antonio won four meetings during the previous regular season and eliminated the Thunder in seven games, proving this matchup creates legitimate problems.

However, Holmgren does not need until the playoffs to begin answering those questions. Opening night offers his first opportunity to demonstrate that last spring strengthened him rather than defined him.

The Thunder can survive an October loss. What they cannot afford is another season of wondering whether Holmgren will confidently meet Wembanyama when the rivalry becomes uncomfortable.