Why Chet Holmgren is excited to face Viktor Vembanjam’s Spurs in the NBA Cup
After losing NBA Cup finals without the Milwaukee Bucks Chet Holmgren last season, Oklahoma City Thunder are returning to the semi-finals to battle it out Victor Vembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas. All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander discussed the mentality of the Thunder’s hunters as the defending champions this season, which hasn’t faltered amid a near-perfect start through the first 25 games of 2025-26.
The Spurs, who have been without Wembanyama since Nov. 15, are expected to return the towering All-Star center to take on the Thunder. explained Holmgren why is he excited to face Vembanyama and Spurs.
“We want to play against really good teams that are fully healthy with all of their best players,” Holmgren said. “They’re already a great team, and having him back is only going to make them better. So I’m excited.”
The Spurs have won four of their last five games, including a 132-119 NBA Cup quarterfinal win against the Los Angeles Lakers without Victor Wembanyama.
“Spurs are a great young team,” added Holmgren. “They’re hungry. They’re playing right now. Add Victor to that, and it just makes them better. So we’re excited to play them. I’m sure they’re excited to play us, and I think it should be a good game.”
The Spurs (17-7) are now tied with the Lakers for fourth-best in the Western Conference.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals NBA Cup’s “Hunter Mentality”
The The Thunder extended their winning streak to 16 straight in Wednesday’s 138-89 NBA Cup quarterfinal victory over the Suns. Before facing the Suprs, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander discussed his team’s approach this season and how that led to a league-best 24-1 record.
“We’re going out there with a hunter mentality ourselves, and honestly, we’re going out there to get better,” Gilgeus-Alexander said. “I’m sure you’ve heard stories about some of my teammates competing against each other during games to get steals, things like that — that’s what’s in our heads. We’re trying to be a better version of ourselves every night we go out there. We like to hunt in that shape.
“If we didn’t get better tonight, then we wasted an opportunity. That’s how we see it.”
2025-12-13 02:53:00
