Chet Holmgren fires subtle shot at Victor Wembanyama after Spain's World Cup win

Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder sparked speculation on July 15, 2026, when he subtly celebrated Spain's 2-0 FIFA World Cup semifinal win over France. His social media post, praising Spain and young star Lamine Yamal, was quickly interpreted as a jab at his French rival, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

What happened?

Holmgren posted on Threads, writing, 'Shoutout to Spain and shoutout to Lamine Yamal that kid is a problem.' The timing of his message, coming after Spain eliminated France, set off speculation given his well-documented rivalry with Wembanyama. The two first clashed in 2021 at the FIBA U19 World Cup Final, where Holmgren's Team USA narrowly beat Wembanyama's France 83-81, with Holmgren earning tournament MVP honors.

Why it matters for Chet Holmgren

This year, Wembanyama got the upper hand when the Spurs eliminated the Thunder in a hard-fought seven-game Western Conference Finals series in May. Wembanyama outplayed Holmgren throughout the series, earning Western Conference Finals MVP and leading San Antonio to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014. Against this backdrop, Holmgren's congratulatory message to Spain can easily be seen as a continuation of their rivalry, even though he never explicitly mentioned Wembanyama.

What comes next?

While Holmgren's post may just be a meme, any interaction in a rivalry this heavily scrutinized will be viewed as beef. The two young stars are expected to continue their competitive dynamic as they develop into NBA superstars. Their next matchup on the court will be highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.

The rivalry between Holmgren and Wembanyama has become one of the most talked-about storylines in the NBA. Their history, both on the international stage and in the NBA, adds an extra layer of intrigue to their interactions, even those that seem unrelated to basketball.