After a promising NBA Cup semis showdown, it seems that the clock is turning back with another generation of the Thunder-Spurs rivalry finally kicking off. At this point, no one can deny that the seeds were already there to begin with — long before either team was contending to the top of the league.

Remember, these two franchises have been warring in the Western Conference before the Warriors dynasty even began. Back then, it was the Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Durant era. So, when the Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren and redshirted him to coincidentally begin his NBA run alongside Victor Wembanyama, we all knew this was going to be a rivalry in the making.

The San Antonio Spurs drew first blood against the Thunder this season. That’s a new thing to begin with. Wembanyama came from a 12-game absence to fuel the Spurs to the NBA Cup Finals. It was the latest installment to an ever-growing saga of elite hoops.

The fact Oklahoma City is defending its title this season, while San Antonio is steadily rising to contend in the West is a sight to behold. It has been nearly a decade since we’ve last seen a massive Thunder vs. Spurs anticipation. With two more games to play in December for these teams, both are becoming a war for fans to enjoy.

Chet vs. Wemby Is a Match Made in Heaven

Let’s get started with the most obvious thing. The Chet vs. Wemby talks will be there for years to come as long as both players stay relevant. Last season, we saw how the path for these two players is really impressive. Wemby was named an All-Star for the first time, while Holmgren ended up winning the NBA Finals. Both suffered massive injuries, and yet they still had fruitful seasons.

This will be a rivalry that will fuel every Thunder vs. Spurs matchup. No one can deny the fact that these players are going at it. We’ve seen Chet talk about respecting his rival, and Wemby, on the other hand, passively dismissing his fellow junior player. Nothing beats a rivalry between two impressive players whose careers will be forever intertwined.

Both of these players have been grinding out to prove their worth in the league. They are even battling for the Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, all the more reason to watch every time they play against each other.

You don’t see such generational talent battle it out on the big stage all the time. The fact that we are seeing the next generation of centers is astounding, and it shows a lot about how a Thunder vs. Spurs game will also be considered a Chet vs. Wemby Super Bowl now and then.

Thunder and Spurs are More Alike Than You Think

To be fair, the Spurs and Thunder are very much alike. They have towering centers who dominate the paint and space the floor. They have very athletic guards who can play defense and run the court faster than any other team in the league. And most of all, they are nearly in the same age bracket.

That says a lot about what you should expect in every Thunder vs. Spurs game. San Antonio is a legendary team, we all know that. But OKC is becoming a rare team like the 72-10 Bulls or the 73-9 Warriors at this point. Both sides still have a lot to prove, but this is what makes them fun to watch.

No one can deny the Thunder are poised to become what seems to be the next dynasty in the league. By design, it seems the Spurs are equally equipped to at least combat what OKC has to offer. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams may well find their match in Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell. It’s a promising basketball storyline that you would not want to miss.

The Future of NBA Rivalries is Here

In a sense, yes, maybe we are finally back to a time where a Spurs team will be seeing a lot of the Thunder squad in the years to come. It’s a matchup that will feed families in the long run, all while fueling massive debates on social media and even among basketball experts.

We haven’t seen such a relevant rivalry in years, since LeBron James and Stephen Curry always battled it out in consecutive seasons. Maybe this time, the basketball gods have missed seeing intense showdowns and massive emotions flowing down in a single game, so they gifted us two incredible teams to begin with.

If anything, this Thunder vs. Spurs rivalry has just begun. To make it even more interesting, we’ve got a whole lot of years to witness these epic moments.