Chet Holmgren was expected to be a star for the rebuilding Thunder when he was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, but it hasn’t fully worked out that way, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Instead, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developed into an MVP candidate and Jalen Williams became an All-Star in his third NBA season.
Holmgren has accepted a complementary role in the offense as a floor-spacing big who can also score at the rim. His development has been hampered by injuries that caused him to miss his entire rookie year and another 50 games this season.
“It’s gone under the radar a little bit how hard it is to be a guy, then sit out for a couple months and have to integrate yourself into a team that has the best record in the NBA and not step on nobody’s toes, but also sticking to yourself,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Holmgren. “That’s a hard position to be in. The way he’s handled it has been special. I don’t know if he gets enough credit.”
Slater points out that Holmgren was the only prominent center who was on the court for the most important stretch of Tuesday’s Western Conference Finals opener, as both Isaiah Hartenstein and Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert sat out the entire fourth quarter. Oklahoma City was able to leverage the smaller lineups to pull away for a 114-88 victory.
Holmgren finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes, but he wasn’t happy with how he started the game.
“I was out there stinking it up in the first half,” he said. “The game’s not gonna reward you for that. I feel like I turned up the intensity, played harder, was able to find a little more gas in the tank and really exert that.”
There’s more on the Thunder:
- After matching up with Nikola Jokic in the second round, it looks like Alex Caruso will be spending a lot of time guarding Julius Randle, Slater adds. The 6’5″, 186-pound Caruso said the idea of facing bigger, stronger opponents doesn’t intimidate him. “Like or dislike, it’s my job,” he said. “Get stops. Either the game tells me to battle 300-pound guys or get over screens on the perimeter.”
- Slater notes that OKC got a boost in Game 1 from Kenrich Williams, who had eight points and three rebounds in 10 minutes and made both of this three-point attempts. It marked the first rotation minutes in the playoffs for Williams, who was used ahead of third-string center Jaylin Williams, and coach Mark Daigneault said the move “breathed life” into his team.
- Serving as a guest commentator for ESPN, Michael Malone said Gilgeous-Alexander “showed why he’s the MVP” (YouTube link). It’s a surprising comment from the former Nuggets coach, who spent years with Jokic, SGA’s chief rival for this year’s Most Valuable Player honors.
I respectfully disagree with Slater here, first: Chet is only 22 in his second year, was he supposed to win MVP as a rookie or something? Second: he had a serious injury this year. Third: he actually is just as valuable as Shai, the Thunder were 5-1 without Shai this year.
Chet already is obviously a megastar on the rise and if you can’t see it, I don’t know what to tell you other than…ydkb
Love Caruso when he answers questions about guarding up. He never claims to love it, always mentions that it’s not his favorite, but that it’s his job to just be himself as a defender no matter the assignment. He came to OKC thinking he’d be guarding more guards and wings but has dominated almost every assignment given to him. And while he doesn’t love guarding up, he still realizes his unique ability and the opportunity he’s been given by signing an extension with OKC. Gotta love him
I was confusing when i saw him guarding jokic, but then wow, he did well. Always love him
Uncharacteristically awful take by Slater. Other than Wemby and, maybe, Banchero, Chet is the best big to enter the league in the last 3 years.
Slater thinks Holmgren hasn’t become a “star” after 2 seasons, which is “disappointing”?! IMO, Chet has exceeded OKC’s expectations draft-day expectations, injury or otherwise.
He starts on the best team in the league at only 23 years old, showing advanced IQ and maturity. He’s an exceptional rim protector and “plus” team defender. He has a ridiculously versatile skillset for a 7 footer. He’s got endorsements from multiple national brands.
If not a “star” already, he’s getting there faster than anybody not named Victor.
Why does everybody who has Alex Caruso insist on getting him beat up in the trenches? It’s a complete mystery to me.
Caruso is a defensive psycho. One of the most watchable players in the league. Now I understand why LeBron was pissed about the Lakers not signing him