Chet Holmgren was referred to as a basketball junkie lengthy earlier than his days with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. He has been described as a participant who lives and breathes the ring – somebody who’s all the time searching for a means to enhance.
As Marc Daigneault stated throughout his exit interview a season in the past, final season was the worst model we have seen of Holmgren. And it was actually superb.
Holmgren completed second in NBA Rookie of the 12 months voting and would have received it each years had he not competed towards Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder massive man shortly put to relaxation any notion that he was too skinny and even remotely resembled a bust. After only one season, he’s already thought-about the most effective and brightest massive males within the NBA.
Thunder Normal Supervisor Sam Presti echoed Daigneault’s ideas throughout his preparatory press convention this week.
“The one factor I’ll say about Chet is that nobody will put extra time or thought into what he does and why,” Presti stated. “He’ll discuss basketball as a lot as you need to discuss it; you realize what I imply? As a result of he actually, actually cares.
A season in the past, the rising star averaged 16.5 factors, 7.9 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks per sport. He established himself as an elite defensive anchor and impressed together with his ball-tracking abilities.
Holmgren additionally had elite splits, capturing 53% from the ground, 37% from 3-point vary and 79.3% from the free throw line.
“I believe I had just a few jokes about him previously as a result of he was price it. I believe the factor about him is that he is terribly formidable, however he does not have an agenda, and for me that is the case: I believe our crew benefited from that mindset on the whole. Extraordinarily formidable, however it’s nonetheless the identical program, which prioritizes victory.
“I believe Chet is a superb ambassador in some ways as a result of he’ll work on all of his particular person initiatives. He’ll plan the whole lot. However when it is sport time, 5-on-5 and it is time to win, he’ll perceive what the crew must do, and I believe that is one among his biggest attributes.
Holmgren’s competitiveness and excessive ceiling will make him formidable over the course of his profession. His second season in Oklahoma Metropolis has an opportunity to be particular.
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