Chet Holmgren refused to reveal the defensive plan Oklahoma City Thunder are using to contain Victor Wembanyama as the teams meet in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on May 24. The Thunder are two wins from returning to the NBA Finals after sweeping the
Chet Holmgren didn’t come to Saturday’s media session to drop clues.
With the Western Conference Finals tightening into something urgent. the Oklahoma City Thunder center was asked how the Thunder are trying to keep Victor Wembanyama in check as the series moves toward the brink. Holmgren chose silence on the specifics, cutting off the conversation before it could get anywhere near a blueprint.
“Yeah sorry. No gameplan stuff,” Holmgren said.
That single line carried a clear message: as the Thunder chase another trip to the NBA Finals, they aren’t interested in giving anyone a peek at what’s working against San Antonio Spurs’ superstar.
Holmgren is in the fourth year of his young NBA career and is progressing through his third postseason. Oklahoma City is riding belief after winning the championship last year. and the goal now is to be the first team to repeat as champions since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018. To get there. the Thunder need to keep pushing through a series where Holmgren has been tasked. game after game. with the challenge posed by Wembanyama.
The early matchups weren’t clean. Holmgren said he had trouble at first, with Wembanyama delivering a historic display in Game 1 at his expense. But after that rough opening, the Thunder adjusted quickly. They took control by winning Games 2 and 3, and Holmgren has shown better form since the first game.
Now the situation is close enough to feel immediate: the Thunder are two wins away from getting back to the NBA Finals. If they can continue finding ways to limit Wembanyama’s best moments, the path returns quickly to basketball’s biggest stage.
Holmgren’s postseason production gives the Thunder something concrete to lean on. Across 11 contests, he is averaging 16.7 points, eight rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting has been solid as well. with splits of 58% from the field. including 38.5% from beyond the arc. and 86.1% at the free-throw line.
San Antonio, though, isn’t going to wait for Oklahoma City to settle into a comfortable rhythm. The Spurs are hoping to swing the series in Game 4 and go up 3-1 when they face the Thunder on the road. Game 4 is scheduled for May 24 at 8 p.m. ET.
In the backdrop of all that is the simplest tension of the Western Conference Finals: Wembanyama remains the threat the Thunder have to solve, and Holmgren isn’t about to help anyone learn how they’re solving it.
Chet Holmgren Victor Wembanyama Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs Western Conference Finals Game 4 May 24 NBA Playoffs
lol “no gameplan stuff” like ok bro just say you can’t stop him
I didn’t even realize this was the WCF still. If OKC is “two wins away” then why is everybody acting like it’s already over? Also Wemby got like 1,000 points in game 1 right?
He refused to say the defense plan, which is smart, but it’s also kinda weird they’re even asking that on media day. Like what, the Spurs gonna call Coach and be like “oh so they’re doing the exact same thing”?? Idk I feel like Wemby will still drop like 40 regardless, that’s what he does.
Holmgren averaging 16.7 and 8 rebounds sounds good but 38.5% from 3 is the real stat right? Still, defending Wembanyama is probably just “hope he misses” half the time. And if Spurs go up 3-1 at home next game?? that part feels backwards to me cause I thought Game 4 was in San Antonio.