Before the Spurs/Thunder match up last night, both coaches were individually asked about the “budding rivalry” between the two young teams. Mitch Johnson and Mark Daigneault both replied with a sense of apprehension toward stoking those flames while expressing respect for their opponent . During Johnson’s pregame presser, he stated “I don’t view it as a budding rivalry. Our group’s been together twenty-five some-odd games. That team won sixteen games in the playoffs to win the championship, so I don’t want to disrespect their program and what they’ve built. We are trying to build something. We’re chasing every single team in this league. They are obviously at the forefront of it all, and I think whatever’s organic and natural for each individual and whatever motivates them and whatever they feel as long as it gets them ready to go where they need to be, I’m fine with it.” Only moments later in the opponent press room, Daigneault shared, “Respectfully, we focus on how we perform, how we execute, how we coach, whether or not we’re improving. We get lost in the next competitive challenge…then we’ll move on to the next team, the next opponent. Use these games to test ourselves, build our habits, improve through the course of the season as we always do. And all the noise all the stuff around that is really distracts you from those things.” More than the two teams youth, they have both built through drafting. They both made key trades and adjustments to load up on draft picks, allowing for options each year. Additionally, both have been graced with a 7-plus-foot phenom. The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren second overall in 2022. Because of injury, he sat out what should have been his rookie season. The Spurs were fortunate to draft Victor Wembanyama with the number one overall pick the following year, leading to speculation of a Rookie of the Year race between Wemby and Holmgren. There was no question as to a clear winner as Victor swept the 99 first place votes, while Holmgren received 98 second place votes and one third place vote. Without Wemby, Holmgren was a shoo-in for ROTY. Alas, Wemby is who he is. For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama is the top player, the focus, and far and away the most gifted player on the team. For OKC, Holmgren has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and Finals MVP. While Homgren is a key asset in the Thunder’s success, he is not their cornerstone. Yet, the Wembanyama/Holmgren rivalry is in part what keeps the overall Spurs/Thunder rivalry in contention, but in an interview prior to the Western Conference Semifinals, Wembanyama expressed that there is no comparison between the two, a move which triggered ire from Dirk Nowitzki. Rivalry or not, the Spurs and the Thunder are in the same division and play one another four times a year. This season, because of the NBA Emirates Cup, there is an additional fifth face off. And if these two teams meet healthy in the postseason, beware. For now, it seems the rivalry is more a product of media questions and fan booing than of players developing career grudges. As it stands, the Spurs have given the Thunder two of their four losses this season. Can they gift wrap another win for the fans back home this afternoon? Merry Christmas, Pounders. Go Spurs Go! Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here. Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language. ...read more read less