Why NBA fans think Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren beef is a thing

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren insist there's no beef between them. NBA fans, however, think otherwise. The two elite defensive big men are set to square off in the Western Conference Finals, with Game 1 of the series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs set for Monday night.

Though both players deny it, many think there's more to this rivalry than the play on the court. As the theory goes, the perceived beef between the two dates back to 2021, when Holmgren and the United States defeated Wembanyama and France 83-81 in the U19 World Cup final. Holmgren earned tournament MVP honors, leading to what fans believe is a one-sided beef with most of the ire coming from Wembanyama.

Why does Wemby hate Chet? Villain origin story: In 2021 France matched up with USA In the U19 World Cup final. USA barely won by two and Chet won the tournament MVP.

This is why Wemby comes at Chet and OKC so HARD! Love it, bring back NBA heated rivalries! 👊 pic.