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One of the louder criticisms of Chet Holmgren since he entered the league has been his lanky frame.
Despite gaining 13 pounds over the last year, the 7-foot-1, 208-pound center continues to hear his skinny frame will not hold up in the NBA when he plays against bigs with notably more mass.
When asked about the concerns on former NBA players Matt Barnes’ and Stephen Jackson’s podcast, “All The Smoke,” Holmgren said while he is actively looking to add muscle, he’s not trying to overdo it to the point that it becomes detrimental to his health.
“It’s not just about being big. There’s so much into the game now. You got to be able to move still and do so many different things. It’s not necessarily about gaining weight,” Holmgren said. “It’s really just trying to work on my body — stronger, more athletic. The weight kinda comes with it as you add some muscle and get older, you always add weight. I don’t want to add the wrong weight just get some big broad shoulders and now I’m moving slow, can’t move (and) my knees hurt. The focus has been working on my body all around and how it plays into my game.”
This is a smart approach by Holmgren. Adding too much weight in a short span of time can cause long-term consequences if not properly regulated.
The 2022 No. 2 pick looks to be a mainstay for the Oklahoma City Thunder as he prepares to play his rookie season following missing the entire 2022-23 campaign due to a foot injury.
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