Kendrick Perkins says Chet Holmgren ‘plays soft’ like Spurs ‘punk’ Thunder

As the NBA world continues to react to San Antonio Spurs going 3-0 against Oklahoma City Thunder December, ESPN Kendrick Perkins calls out Chet Holmgren. Between All-Star Victor Wembanyama shrugging off any comparisons to the Thunder’s 7-footer, and a lackluster performance in a 117-102 loss on Christmas Day, Holmgren has struggled in each of Oklahoma City’s three losses to the Spurs.

While Holmgren (10 points, 12 rebounds) recorded a double-double in the Thunder’s loss to the Spurs, it was not enough for Perkins, he said, according to ESPN’s Get Up.

“I’ve got to catch my boy Chet Holmgren for a minute. He’s playing soft in this match. Victor Wembanyama wants a smoke,” Perkins said. “He’s losing that smoke now — that foul foul he had, and he’s yelling and clapping at the free throw line. Chet has to go with it the next time they play the Spurs. It might be in the postseason, but he’s got to go out with it because right now the Spurs are hitting the Thunder, and they’re making them soft.”

In one of his worst performances of the season, Holmgren finished with seven points, three rebounds, one assist and one block in the Thunder’s 130-110 loss to the Spurs on Tuesday. Chat is averaging 11.3 points on 41% shooting, including 25% from deep, 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks against the Spurs this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps 100 after Thunder loss

After challenging his team to improve after their 117-102 Christmas loss to the Spurs, Thunder All Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took it a step further. Gilgeous-Alexander found Spurs to be the better teamafter the defending champion’s third defeat.

Gilgeous-Alexander he didn’t hold back giving the Spurs their flowers after handing the Thunder two losses in two days at Christmas.

“We have to get better as a group. You can’t lose to a team three times in a row in a short period of time without them being better than you,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We have to be better. Look in the mirror, and that’s everyone from top to bottom, if we want to achieve our ultimate goal.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “We have to get better as a group. You don’t lose to a team three times in a row in a short period of time without them being better than you.

We have to do better. Look in the mirror, and they are all from top to bottom, if we want to achieve our ultimate goal” pic.twitter.com/g6tBBkGhOZ

— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) December 25, 2025

The Thunder fell to 25-6, while the Spurs are now 23-7, which is second best in the Western Conference.