Tag: Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren explains Nike commercial with Kevin Durant, hopes for future work together

Chet Holmgren explains Nike commercial with Kevin Durant, hopes for future work together.

Since entering the league, Chet Holmgren has been open about his admiration for Kevin Durant. Both players have several similarities.

They’re 7-foot unicorns selected with the No. 2 pick of their respective drafts by the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Holmgren’s rookie season, he has made a major impact on OKC’s success as an elite shot-blocker who can handle and space the floor.

The duo was recently featured in a Nike commercial. Holmgren was part of Nike’s commercial advertising their new KD 17s. Durant narrated the commercial as Holmgren talked about setting his legacy.

Before the Thunder’s Game 2 against the New Orleans Pelicans, Holmgren discussed making the commercial. He said his relationship with Durant played a role in the process.

“That came through a Nike partnership. Having a relationship between me and Kev, too,” Holmgren said. “I thought it was a cool collab and a good look for both of us. I don’t see it being the last thing we work on together down the road.”

As one can probably predict, Thunder fans ran with the last sentence, claiming it might be the 21-year-old hinting at a potential reunion between Durant and OKC. The 35-year-old is a free agent in 2026.

The future Hall-of-Famer has also spoken highly of the Thunder in recent history. He’s fondly talked about his nine-year tenure with the Thunder and how it helped him establish himself in the league.

While a Durant return would rival the best of Hollywood scripts, Holmgren’s quote doesn’t hint at that possibility one way or the other — much to the disappointment of social media.

Holmgren likely hinted at future work with Durant related to Nike. Not on the court. Both athletes are among the faces of the brand. The rookie center had a recent interview with Boardroom, which Durant owns.

That doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility of Durant returning to the Thunder, but Holmgren’s answer shouldn’t play a role in how someone feels about the odds of that reunion.

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Chet Holmgren named a finalist for 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award

Chet Holmgren nominated for 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award.

The NBA announced its award finalists for the 2023-24 season on Sunday. The Oklahoma City Thunder had several representatives among the groups.

Chet Holmgren is up for the Rookie of the Year award. After missing last year recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 21-year-old was phenomenal in his rookie campaign.

Holmgren averaged 16.5 points on 53% shooting, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks in 82 games this season. He’s part of the Thunder’s trio that made them the youngest top seed in league history.

Other finalists are Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller. The 2023-24 Rookie of the Year will be announced during the 2024 NBA playoffs,

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault were named finalists for MVP and Coach of the Year, respectively.

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Chet Holmgren anxious for playoff debut, excited to see home crowd

Chet Holmgren anxious for playoff debut, excited to see home crowd.

Considering how young the Oklahoma City Thunder are, Game 1 against the New Orleans Pelicans will be the first home playoff game for most of the roster.

In the Thunder’s final practice before their playoff debut, Chet Holmgren described himself as anxious to get to a tip following a week of rest as the first seed.

When asked about the playoff shirts fans will sport during Game 1, Holmgren was excited about the atmosphere. The rookie 7-foot center understands the homecourt advantage the OKC crowd provides in the postseason.

“They didn’t bring it back because of me. I think they brought it back because of the playoffs,” Holmgren said about the playoff shirts. “If they didn’t, I’d probably have a word.”

What are Holmgren’s expectations for the Game 1 environment?

“A sea of white (shirts), man,” Holmgren said. “Lots of people standing up … Deafening sound.”

If the Thunder have a deep playoff run, the 21-year-old will need to play a massive part in it. Holmgren rounds out one of the best trios in the league with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

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Chet Holmgren voices who he thinks should win Rookie of the Year

Chet Holmgren voices who he thinks should win Rookie of the Year.

After a successful season in which the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the Western Conference’s top seed, it’s only reasonable to expect several representatives during this year’s award season.

One is Chet Holmgren, who’ll likely finish top two in Rookie of the Year voting with Victor Wembanyama. It was an historic season for the rookie duo; they led the league in blocks.

Holmgren played an important role in the Thunder’s campaign as part of their young trio. Meanwhile, Wembanyama had a phenomenal rookie campaign and is on his way to being one of the best players in the league.

In his interview on the Boardroom, Holmgren talked about the Rookie of the Year race, saying both he and Wembanyama deserve it and that it’ll be up to the voters to decide the winner.

“All credit to Wembanyama and what he’s doing,” Holmgren said. “I think first of all, we’re both having great years, but at the end of the day I think the voting is in the eye of the beholder.

“Whenever that does happen, win, lose, draw, the focus at the end of the day is our season hopefully continuing on, and what I have to do to help our team continue where they’re trying to go.”

This is a very diplomatic answer by Holmgren, who is as savvy with the media as he is protecting the rim. Odds are, Wembanyama will win the award, but that shouldn’t take away from Holmgren’s special first season back after missing all of last year recovering from a Lisfranc injury.

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Spurs’ Wembanyama, Hornets’ Miller named rookies of the month for third straight time

Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller for the third straight time have been named the Rookies of the Month for March.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference rookies of the month, respectively, for the third straight time.

Wembanyama became the first Spurs rookie to win three months in a row since Tim Duncan after averaging 23.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 1.2 steals in 12 games. He led all rookies in scoring, rebounding and blocks in March.

Miller averaged 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 14 games, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to win three times. He was second among rookies in scoring and led all first-year players in 3-pointers (42).

Wembanyama registered five 30-point games, the most by a rookie in a calendar month since LeBron James in December 2003. He produced a career-high 40 points and 20 rebounds on March 29, becoming the first rookie since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 to reach that mark.

Miller was the third-fastest Hornets rookie to surpass 1,000 career points after reaching that mark on March 15 (60 games). He later registered his third 30-point game of the season after recording 31 points with a career-high seven 3s on March 27.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II and Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson were also nominated for the award from the West. Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Hornets forward Vasilije Micić were also nominated in the East.

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Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren registers rare double-double stat line in win

Chet Holmgren erupted in the fourth quarter and finished with his fourth 30-point game to lead the Thunder to a win over the Jazz.

Chet Holmgren erupted in the fourth quarter on Wednesday and finished with his fourth 30-point game to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a win over the Utah Jazz.

Holmgren produced 35 points, 14 rebounds, three blocked shots, two steals and one assist in the 119-107 victory. He went 12-of-18 from the field in 31 minutes, and the Thunder improved to a Western Conference-best 48-20 with the victory.

The former second pick became the second rookie to have at least four 30-point games (Victor Wembanyama, 6). He registered his second game with 30 points and 10 rebounds and is the only Thunder rookie to reach that mark in a game.

“We’ve worked hard as a team to make sure we’re finding him on rolls,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “He is just such a vertical threat, not only because you can throw it up to him but you can throw it on the ground to him, and he is skilled enough to catch and not travel or use a dribble and a move to get into the basket. That is, systematically, about how you draw it up. He played within himself tonight.”

Holmgren recorded 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Thunder outscored the Jazz 37-27 down the stretch. It was the second time he has had at least 18 points in a quarter. He scored 19 in the fourth quarter on Feb. 25.

The 7-footer made all six of his shot attempts from the field in the final period, including three emphatic dunks. He did most of his work through contact, earning six trips to the free-throw line.

He was happy with how the team played late to win.

We continued to play together. I feel like we did a good job of that all game. Some shots didn’t fall from the outside but we did a good job of not just saying we’re a team that is going to win when we make shots and we found other ways to open up the game and pull away at the end.

Holmgren is averaging 17.1 points, eight rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks on 38.9% shooting from 3-point range in 68 games. He has played in every game so far for the Thunder and ranks second in points, rebounds and blocks among rookies.

He has played an integral role with the Thunder this season and is a key reason the team is third in offense and fifth in defense. He is one of the top rookies and his effort on Wednesday showcased why he projects to have a bright future in OKC.

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Paul George predicts Victor Wembanyama-Chet Holmgren Rookie of the Year winner

Paul George predicts Victor Wembanyama-Chet Holmgren Rookie of the Year winner.

As the 2023-24 regular season winds down, voters will soon need to turn in their ballots for the award races. One of the most discussed awards this year is Rookie of the Year. LA Clippers forward Paul George offered his opinion on the debate.

It’s a two-player battle between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. The two centers headline the new renaissance of seven-footer players who can handle the ball and score like a guard. Both are also monster mobile rim protectors.

Over the last few months, Wembanyama has created distance in the race with a dominating stretch with the San Antonio Spurs. He’s averaged 20.6 points on 46.5% shooting, 10.3 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 3.4 assists.

Meanwhile, Holmgren has been part of the young trio with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are fighting for first place. He’s averaged 16.8 points on 53.6% shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.7 assists.

The Chet vs. Wemby discussions have been one of the more prominent storylines of the season, and both will likely be linked with each other for the rest of their careers. They’ve had similar upbringings as generational bigs who were high draft picks in their respective classes.

In a recent episode of the “Podcast P” podcast, George offered his opinion on the heated Wembanyama-Holmgren debate, stating he thinks the former has edged the latter for the prestigious award.

“I’m gonna give it to Wemby,” George said. “Chet’s on a winning team. He’s got a great group of young guys around him, so not much pressure is like solely on him.

“The expectation for Wemby is extremely high, he’s playing on a young team as well but they’re not as successful and I don’t think quite yet the talent is as high as Oklahoma’s, so he’s relied upon to do a lot on a nightly basis and he’s doing it.

“Yeah, his team isn’t winning as much as Chet’s team but that’s because Chet’s team is better, and I think he’s handling and with the expectation he’s doing a great job.”

This is a reasonable take to have this late in the season. Wembanyama has put up historic numbers recently, but he’s given the platform to do so considering how little talent is in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, Holmgren plays within the flow of the Thunder, which has led to them blossoming into young title contenders this season. He doesn’t have as much room for error.

Regardless of who wins the award, it’s fair to say both teams are excited to have their respective young center for the foreseeable future as they headline the next crop of players.

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Chet Holmgren convinced Thunder to play through fatigue instead of rest

Chet Holmgren convinced Thunder to play through fatigue instead of rest.

After missing last season recovering from multiple foot surgeries, Chet Holmgren has played every game for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season.

This marks a remarkable turnaround for the 21-year-old, who faced questions about his durability after suffering a Lisfranc injury last summer. In 65 games, Holmgren has averaged 16.8 points on 53.5% shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks.

When asked about not missing a game this season on ESPN’s “The Woj Pod,”  Holmgren revealed an interesting anecdote from earlier this season about persuading the Thunder to let him play instead of sitting out a contest.

“There was an instance where it was suggested to me (to rest) and credit to our management, our coaching staff and our medical team. They really see this as a partnership and a collaboration,” Holmgren said. “They came to me, they gave me their point of view and they listened to my point of view.

“At the end of the conversation we were able to come to a conclusion, both sides were able to kinda live with that conclusion and I ended up going out there and playing.”

This latest example is just another glance at how the Thunder operate and are willing to listen to their players when it comes to major decisions. Holmgren has played a key role in OKC’s rise to contention this season as part of their young trio with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addresses comparisons to former Thunder trio

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addresses comparisons to former Thunder trio.

Slowly building one of the association’s best cores over the last few years, the Oklahoma City Thunder have burst onto the scene as a title contender despite their young roster this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into an MVP candidate while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren round out one of the best trios in the league.

The numbers the Thunder have put up — top five in net rating, offensive rating and defensive rating — have been mostly unprecedented due to their youth and inexperience.

Barring the unforeseen, this is likely the beginning of a lengthy competitive window for the Thunder as they return to contention following a short stay in a rebuild.

Ironically enough, the only real comparison with similar circumstances involved the first iteration of the Thunder. A youthful trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden led OKC to an NBA Finals appearance in 2012. All three were 23 years old and younger.

Following that, the Thunder were title contenders for several years and reached four Western Conference finals in six years.

When asked about the comparison between the two trios, Gilgeous-Alexander said their version is trying to achieve similar success the first iteration had in their time with the Thunder.

“There’s three of them and there’s three of us that are obviously a talented group of guys. But I don’t really think our game compares to theirs,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Those guys are obviously three amazing basketball players and have done amazing things with this game and have changed the game forever.”

While it’s unlikely Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams each win an MVP in their careers, there’s a real possibility they enjoy collective success in OKC as Durant, Westbrook and Harden did.

“Me, Chet and Dub are three kids just trying to get better. Trying to chase some of the things that they achieved and try to ultimately win an NBA championship,” Gilgeous-Alexander continued. “There’s three guys that are the head of the snake just like how it was before.”

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Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren marveled at Mikal Bridges’ ironman streak

After starting every game this year, Chet Holmgren had a hilarious reaction to Miles Bridges’ ironman streak in the NBA.

Chet Holmgren has started every game for the Oklahoma City Thunder and is among the league leaders in games played and games started this season.

Holmgren logged his 61st appearance on Monday in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was one of five players entering play on Tuesday to start that many games this season, joining Mikal Bridges, Coby White, Jonas Valanciunas and Tyus Jones.

The former second pick acknowledged his streak on Tuesday and offered a hilarious reaction to being in the same conversation as Bridges, who has never missed a game in his six years in the NBA.

Of course, Bridges has appeared in 454 consecutive regular-season games, the longest active streak in the league. He has the longest streak to begin a career since Michael Finley played in the first 490 games of his career from April 2005 to March 2012.

The former NBA All-Defensive first-team member even played in 83 games last season after joining the Nets before the trade deadline, becoming the 42nd player ever to do so. Fittingly, he led the league in minutes last year and is third this year.

Holmgren has a long way to go to catch Bridges, but the 7-footer has become an ironman in his own right this season with the Thunder. After missing all of last year due to a foot injury, Holmgren is likely very happy to be available for his team this season.

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