No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren hit the court with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time this month and did so to much fanfare for his performance on the court.
He also made some noise for his sneaker choice.
Holmgren averaged 14 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.6 steals in five summer league games between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He wasted no time after dazzling in his debut, producing 23 points, seven rebounds, six blocks and four assists on July 5.
The performance of Holmgren even earned praise from Kevin Durant, who gave him a shout-out on Twitter. Durant also loved the fact that Holmgren was hooping in his latest signature shoe, the Nike KD15, which was released earlier this year.
I see u cookin 7. First day on the job was a success, love the kicks @ChetHolmgren https://t.co/sQrgDpPCU0
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 6, 2022
The shout-out from Durant, plus the play of Holmgren in summer league, helped draw quite a bit of attention to the shoes. According to Nick DePaula of Boardroom, eBay saw an 87% spike in searches for the shoe from June 21 to July 12.
Though there has been no official announcement on a potential pact between Holmgren and Nike, the 19-year-old was seen wearing the KD15 throughout summer league. The shoe choice by Holmgren could mean a deal is imminent.
Holmgren has been among the top up-and-coming prospects for several years now and commands a huge following, making him one of the most marketable players entering the NBA. He will certainly have no shortage of suitors for future endorsement contracts, including Nike.
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Holmgren certainly showed out during his first taste of NBA action with the Thunder. He played at a high level and projects to have a bright future in the league.
Count Durant as a fan of Holmgren after his debut.
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