Overview
- Before Spurs–Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals, Wembanyama told Prime Video’s Taylor Rooks, “The MVP is on that court, he’s our main focus,” adding that “anybody is hard to guard when you have to help on the MVP.”
- On the pregame broadcast, Dirk Nowitzki criticized the response, saying he wished Wembanyama had credited Holmgren and calling the answer “too swaggy” and “too dismissive.”
- The comments were widely read as downplaying Holmgren’s individual impact by tying his success to playing alongside reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
- The Spurs advanced past the Thunder in the semifinal with Wembanyama back from a recent injury, setting up a Cup final against the Knicks.
- After the game, Wembanyama said, “Some people are built for this moment, and some aren’t,” which Newsweek reported as a reference to Holmgren.