Perkins Calls Out Holmgren After 8-Point Game 1 Loss to Wembanyama's 41
Updated
Updated · Thunderous Intentions · May 19
Perkins Calls Out Holmgren After 8-Point Game 1 Loss to Wembanyama's 41
7 articles · Updated · Thunderous Intentions · May 19
Kendrick Perkins publicly challenged Chet Holmgren after Oklahoma City's 122-115 double-overtime Game 1 loss, saying the Thunder big man was "ducking smoke" and must take Victor Wembanyama more personally.
Holmgren finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks on 2-for-7 shooting in nearly 41 minutes, a sharp drop from his 17.1-point regular season average and All-Star form.
Wembanyama dominated the matchup with 41 points, 24 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Holmgren was often shifted away from him defensively and Alex Caruso ended up guarding the 7-foot-4 Spurs star.
Perkins framed the response around a long-running Holmgren-Wembanyama rivalry, arguing Oklahoma City needs a far more aggressive Holmgren in Game 2 to keep its path to a second straight Finals alive.
With a new defender on Wembanyama, what is Chet Holmgren's true purpose for the Thunder to win this series?
Is the performance gap between Wembanyama and Holmgren a measure of talent or a mental battle Holmgren is losing?