Before the 2023-24 season began, the Oklahoma City Thunder were already garnering some buzz as a potential playoff contender in the loaded Western Conference, with analysts seeing promise in the team due to the impending arrival of Chet Holmgren, the second overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft who missed his entire first season as a pro due to a Lisfranc injury. However, not too many could have foreseen just how good Holmgren would be in his rookie season.

Following a 22-point, four-block game in a 129-120 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, Holmgren is now averaging 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game — impressive stats for any player, much less a rookie. But beyond his impressive statistics, he has also transformed the Thunder defensively, giving them a legitimate rim protector who has elite defensive instincts and solid mobility to defend in space.

As a result, Chet Holmgren isn't just running away as the frontrunner to win the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year award, he is also garnering some very credible All-Star buzz. Nonetheless, the Thunder youngster isn't paying attention to all that noise, as all he has his sights set on is how to help his team win ballgames, starting with their next contest against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

“Before the game, I was focused on the Knicks tonight. Now that the game is over, I’m focused on the Denver Nuggets,” Holmgren said, per Brandon Rahbar of Daily Thunder.

This is the exact mindset that makes Chet Holmgren a budding superstar for the nascent Thunder. He is not allowing all the hype surrounding him get to his head; all he wants is to get better every single day to try and outplay whoever his matchup may be to help OKC get the victory.

In fact, Holmgren is learning so quickly; after struggling against three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in their first matchup, the Thunder rookie was able to bounce back in a huge way this past Tuesday.

The 21-year old center will have his hands full when he takes on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, but at this point, there should be no doubting anymore what he is capable of on the hardwood.