Tag: Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren shared his emotions from the hospital after a heartbreaking hip injury

This was remarkable insight into the mind of Chet Holmgren after a tough injury.

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren went down with an injury during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors.

While contesting a layup attempt against Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins on Sunday, the 22-year-old made an effort to stop the basket and then landed on his hip.

Unfortunately for Holmgren, he could not put much weight on his right leg following the play and needed help to the locker room. The team then later announced he suffered a pelvic fracture and they would then provide another update in eight to ten weeks.

Holmgren, who also missed his first professional season due to injury, shared his thoughts from the hospital room after the diagnosis:

“Can’t tell if I feel better or worse about this having been through something similar before. On one hand I know how to approach it, I know what to do, what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the wear it puts on your mind. Most of all I’m hurt I can’t help my teammates and play for our fans and supporters for a while. Everyone who sticks with me and our team, along with my need for hoops, is a big part of my passion to return. Don’t pity me or feel bad, there’s lots of people out there rn with real problems that don’t heal. Anyways excuse my rambling just wanted to address our okc fans and family.”

The 7-foot-1 big man is expected to return to action for the Thunder later this season, but it is unclear when.

Oklahoma City is currently playing without big man Isaiah Hartenstein and backup big man Jaylin Williams as well.

Although he was clearly feeling emotional about his injury, Holmgren was also frustrated that Wiggins still scored on the possession.

That is the exact kind of mentality that makes him such an impactful player on both sides of the ball for the Thunder.

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Victor Wembanyama takes the Chet Holmgren rivalry so seriously he won’t even acknowledge his name

Victor Wembanyama doesn’t care for Chet Holmgren. At all.

In case you have any doubt about the competitiveness between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, the young San Antonio Spurs big man seemingly takes few things more seriously than his battles with his peer from Oklahoma City. This dynamic comes into focus again as the Spurs visit the Thunder on Wednesday.

READ MORE: The history of the Wembanyama-Holmgren rivalry is worth revisiting. 

On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN NBA writer Michael C. Wright revealed that Wembanyama actively avoids using Holmgren’s name. He used an example of where Wembanyama was asked a direct question about playing against Holmgren.

In response, Wembanayama just talked about the general matchup with the Thunder without even acknowledging Holmgren. Oh, OK:

Here’s to another heated battle between two of the best young big men in the NBA. May they add another awesome chapter to their already great rivalry.

Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama’s rivalry, explained

Please, give us another 15 years of this.

Folks, here we are again. The Thunder and the Spurs are about to play in their first game against one another this NBA season.

That means we get to see Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama go at it. These are basically two basketball kaiju colliding. One is 7-foot-4 and the other is 7-foot-1 and they both do everything guards can do — sometimes better. It’s wild.

The comparisons will always be there. They’re both second-year big men despite Holmgren being drafted a year before. They both play the same position. They’re both in the same conference. Their playing styles are similar.

But should we call their relationship with each other a rivalry? It’s fair to call it that. But I’m not so sure it’s that quite yet.

Let’s dive into their relationship on the court so far.

Wait, so is this thing actually a rivalry?

Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Well, it’s competitive. Maybe it’s fair to call it a rivalry. But there’s no animosity between the two of them.

Holmgren was asked about his relationship with Wemby over the summer on Paul George’s “Playoff P” podcast. He quickly clarified that, while things are competitive, there is no “beef” between the two of them.

“People be like ‘Y’all got beef?’ I’m like ‘Beef?’ We’re out there competing, but beef? Like, beef means when I see you we’re fighting. Why do I got beef with him? I honestly don’t even know the guy. We just play basketball against each other. As competitors, neither of us want to lose. And neither of us want to, like, just let the other person get a bucket or anything. So, we’re always going to compete. If people take it as we got beef, those people don’t understand competing I guess.”

And yet, before Wednesday’s game, ESPN’s Michael C. Wright said in an interview that Wembanyama won’t even say Holmgren’s name.

Interesting!

How competitive are they?

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

It’s pretty clear that the competitive juices flow a little bit harder when they line up against one another.

It all started back in 2021 at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Wembanyama said losing to Holmgren and fouling out of the final game against Team USA is the “worst memory” of his young basketball life so far.

Here’s more from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst:

“It is only the worst basketball memory of Wembanyama’s life — “Just thinking about it makes my jaw clench,” he has said — and one of the great accomplishments of Holmgren’s. Though he didn’t play exceptionally by his standards in the championship game — Holmgren had 10 points and five assists — the American player was named the tournament’s MVP and returned for his freshman year at Gonzaga with a gold medal. Wembanyama had put up 22 points with eight rebounds and eight blocks before having to watch the final minutes from the bench.”

That competitive energy between them hasn’t disappeared.

What were their matchups like?

COMPETITIVE. In all caps. The games are fun to watch. They both do things we’ve never seen anyone like them do on an NBA court.

With that said, mountains moved when we saw Wemby block Chet’s jumper.

Chet and the Thunder walked away with two wins in their three matchups. But Wembanyama would usually walk away with a highlight or two that made you go, “Wow. Can’t wait to watch more of this for the next 10 years.”

So, look. Maybe this isn’t a rivalry now. But the more these guys see each other, the closer this matchup becomes the real deal.

Holmgren told reporters last year, “I plan on playing a long time, and i’m sure he does too so there’ll be no choice but to go back and forth.”

Let’s hope that happens.

Chet Holmgren opens up about Josh Giddey trade, said he was hurt over his exit

Chet Holmgren opens up about Josh Giddey trade, said he was hurt over his exit.

After a busy offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for the 2024-25 campaign as a title favorite. They bolstered their depth with the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.

Even though the improvements are no-brainers, that doesn’t mean the Thunder left the offseason unscathed. OKC made the tough — but right — decision to part ways with Josh Giddey.

After he refused to come off the bench for next season, the Thunder shipped the 21-year-old to the Chicago Bulls for Caruso. This marked the first major departure from the Thunder’s rebuild.

Giddey spent the last three seasons with the Thunder. After a strong first two years, he underwent his worst career campaign last season. A demotion in his role from a primary ball-handler to the fourth option led to that.

Despite this, Giddey remained a positive among his teammates. Chet Holmgren opened up about his departure in an appearance on Paul George’s “Podcast P” episode.

“I was f—ing hurt when I saw that Giddey wasn’t going to be on our team anymore,” Holmgren said. “We all rock with him. That’s our dog. Still is. He’s gonna go do great things in Chicago.”

Even though the Thunder replaced him with an easier fit in Caruso, that doesn’t mean the time spent among his teammates will be easy to wash away. Such is business in the NBA.

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Chet Holmgren addresses rivalry with Victor Wembanyama, claims there’s no beef

Chet Holmgren addresses rivalry with Victor Wembanyama, claims there’s no beef.

As new powerhouses emerge in the Western Conference, expect the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs to return to their glory days.

That also comes with the bonus of seeing Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama square it off in high-stakes environments.

Both seven-footers have been compared to each other throughout their basketball journeys. The similarities are astonishing. They are generational defensive talent who can handle and shoot the ball. They both went top two in back-to-back draft classes and headlined last year’s rookie class.

Despite that, Holmgren doesn’t believe his rivalry with Wembanyama is personal. It stays within the court as two highly-competitive individuals fight it out.

The 22-year-old addressed this in a recent Paul George’s “Podcast P” episode.

“I would just say us being competitors,” Holmgren said. “We played against each other before we were even in the NBA. People be like ‘Y’all got beef?’

“I’m like, ‘Beef? We’re out there competing, but beef means when I see you we’re fighting, you know what I mean?’ Why do I got beef with him? I honestly don’t even know the guy. We just play basketball against each other.”

Holmgren further explained that any animosity he might have toward Wembanyama is purely about trying to get wins. Both players have done an admirable job of avoiding taking shots at one another when given the opportunity.

“As competitors, neither of us wants to lose, and neither of us wants to let the other person get a bucket or anything,” Holmgren said. “We’re always going to compete and if people take it as we got beef, those people don’t really understand competing I guess.”

This is a pretty reasonable answer at one of the league’s juiciest rivalries. It’s evident how badly it wants Chet vs. Wemby to become a storyline as all three of the Thunder’s matchup against the Spurs will be on national television next season.

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OKC Thunder will face tough start to 2024-25 regular season

OKC Thunder will face tough start to 2024-25 regular season.

Right out of the gates, the Oklahoma City Thunder won’t have much room for error to start the 2024-24 regular season.

The Thunder unveiled their 82-game slate recently as the calendar creeps closer to starting training camp in less than two months. OKC hopes to repeat its success from last season as the first seed.

To achieve that goal, they will need to get off to a hot start and fight through any possible adjustment periods needed for Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso — who will be two of the top-six rotation players.

The Thunder have the fifth-hardest strength of schedule in October and November among last year’s playoff squads. OKC’s early opponents had a combined .512 win percentage last season.

A slow start might dampen the Thunder’s ambitions of the first seed. Hovering around .500 could put them behind the marathon as 57 wins was barely enough to get the first seed last season.

Overall, it’s a daunting schedule for the Thunder, who are also tied for the most back-to-backs at 16 this year, an increase from last season’s 14 total.

Regardless of seeding, what’s more important is how strong the Thunder look at the end of the season and the health of their top pieces. Those two variables are more important than chasing a few spots in the standings.

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Oklahoma City Thunder, Chet Holmgren vs. San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama is must-see TV

Chet Holmgren is no joke, and he and Wemby make for a budding mega-rivalry over the next half-decade onward.

While much of the NBA is understandably infatuated with the rise of second-year star San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, he is not the only 7-foot unicorn in the league’s Western Conference to keep an eye on. Oklahoma City Thunder star big man Chet Holmgren is no joke, and he and Wemby make for a budding mega-rivalry over the next half-decade onward.

And it is not just fans and analysts of the Thunder who are getting excited about that potential recurrent battle on the hardwood out West. National analysts like the hosts of ESPN’s “NBA Today” show are also gushing about seeing the two big men battle it out in 2024-25. Cohosts Tim Legler and Malika Andrews had plenty to say about the Thunder and the Spurs colliding this coming season.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what the duo had to say about a reprisal of Chet vs. Wemby in the 2024-25 NBA Cup and beyond.

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NBA puts Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama in national spotlight during 2024-25 season

NBA puts Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama in national spotlight during 2024-25 season.

Like the previous iteration, expect an old rivalry to be renewed here in the coming years.

After examining the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2024-25 regular season schedule, it’s painfully obvious how badly the NBA wants the San Antonio Spurs to be their primary foe.

Like Batman to Joker, the league has pushed Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama to the national spotlight all three times they match up this season.

It makes all the sense in the world for the league to push this too. Holmgren and Wembayama were top-two picks in their respective drafts and finished as the top-two last season in Rookie of the Year.

Both seven-footers have similar playstyles as elite paint protectors who can handle and shoot the ball with extraordinary ability. They headline the next generation of versatile centers that will dominate the league for the foreseeable future.

While the Thunder are a title contender and Spurs are in a rebuild, expect the latter to catch up solely from Wembanyama’s ascension as one of the league’s best players.

Playoff clashes feel inevitable between these two titans. But that likely won’t happen next season. Until then, the regular season must be enough to quench the thirst of fans who look forward to this rivalry.

The Thunder and Spurs face off three times next season. The first matchup will be early in the season and broadcast via ESPN on Oct. 30. OKC will be the host.

The second matchup features some stakes as it will be an NBA Cup group game. The Thunder travel to San Antonio on Nov. 19 and will be shown on TNT.

The final contest will be late in the season on Mar. 2. OKC once more travels to the Spurs to take it on in front of an ESPN audience.

Even if neither player publicly acknowledges it, there is a simmering rivalry brewing between Holmgren and Wembanyama. Expect that to be the case for the rest of their careers as they battle it out in the Western Conference.

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OKC Thunder tied for most back-to-backs in 2024-25 season among last year’s playoff squads

OKC Thunder tied for most back-to-backs in 2024-25 season among last year’s playoff squads.

After a first-seed finish last season, the odds are stacked against the Oklahoma City Thunder to repeat that achievement for the 2024-25 regular season.

Examining the 82-game schedule, a large sum of back-to-backs pop out. The Thunder are tied for most back-to-back among playoff teams from last season with 16. An uptick from 14 last year.

The LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans also have 16 back-to-backs.

This is a killer revelation for the Thunder. Even with their youthful legs, there could be surprising losses caused solely by this scheduling snafu.

The league has tried to decrease the amount of back-to-back in recent years. It’s taken a step back in that goal for the sake of the NBA Cup, which will give most teams a semi-off week in December.

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NBA continues to fail to properly parade OKC Thunder on national stage

NBA continues to fail to properly parade OKC Thunder on national stage.

After examining the NBA’s league-wide schedule for the 2024-24 regular season, one point was further proven — the Oklahoma City Thunder did not get the same treatment as their peers.

Despite being the first seed and advancing to the final eight last year, the Thunder ranked 11th in the league in national television broadcast, excluding NBA TV appearances.

11th? Seriously? For last year’s first seed and second-best overall record manned by the MVP runner-up? To add insult to injury, only three of the Thunder’s 15 national contests will be at OKC.

While the league partially amended its error to leave OKC out for Christmas and Opening Night, it did the bare minimum for the Thunder. A scheduling mishap that can cost them down the road.

The Thunder should be paraded with fellow title contenders next season. After all, they will be a member of that exclusive club for the foreseeable future.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has broken out as one of the best players in the league. Expect the 26-year-old to put up nonchalant 30-plus point performances. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will only improve and should flirt with All-Star status next season.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is one of the best young minds in the league. GM Sam Presti has built a deep roster filled with young talent and endless potential.

Even considering the small-market tax, the Thunder should’ve been paraded more often this season. A notable bump from last year’s total — the second-best improvement in the league — is only putting perfume on a self-imposed mess.

Among the 10 squads ahead of the Thunder, some are more understandable than others. The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks will always be the league’s darlings due to their sheer market size and rich history.

The Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks and — to a certain extent — Golden State Warriors are also reasonable. All three franchises roster a single player with cult-like followings with Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry. They alone are a billion-dollar enterprise.

But the Milwaukee Bucks? Who are fresh off their worst season in recent history and could see the departure of Giannis Antetokounmpo soon? They’re on the downslope.

Or what about the Minnesota Timberwolves? Who are in a similar tier as the Thunder but get more national TV games and featured on the two biggest nights of the regular season?

Gilgeous-Alexander is a better player than Anthony Edwards right now. That should mean the former should enjoy the national spotlight more than the latter next season until proven otherwise.

And finally, what about the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns? Both were worse than OKC last season and it’s easy to project that the gap grows as time passes.

The NBA has shown its true feelings about the Thunder and it only confirms the chip OKC fans carry on their shoulders when it comes to the lack of national respect they get.

Being late to the party is one thing. Nobody should be upset that the league failed to schedule the Thunder for several national television games last season. Their ascension took everybody by surprise.

But the NBA has had all offseason — and really, nearly a year — to catch up to conventional wisdom about the Thunder. Instead of showing up late with an apologetic pizza to the house party, they flat-out ghosted OKC’s ascension.

It didn’t happen this year, but sooner or later, the league must grit its teeth and treat the Thunder like one of the best teams. Even if it means abandoning their old method of marketing individual players over anything else.

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