When Chet Holmgren said last May that he'd be the best player in the NBA in two months, many thought he was exaggerating. In his Summer League debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder, however, the rookie seems ready to walk the talk.
Against the Utah Jazz at Salt Lake City, Holmgren exploded in the first quarter with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from the 3-point line. He also had three blocks in the same period, impressing everyone watching with his block party.
Also, did we mention that the guy can throw it down with force? While his thin frame may fool a lot of people, Chet Holmgren showed everyone he's the real deal as he attacked the basket without fear. For what it's worth, the highlight reel material is also a great example of how the so-called âThin Towersâ of Chet and Aleksej Pokusevski can thrive playing together.
Holmgren was largely expected to go no. 1 in the 2022 NBA Draft. However, rumors have it that he purposely botched his workout with the Orlando Magic to land with the Thunder, who have been linked with him for a long time before the annual rookie selection.
With that said, the Thunder have to be really happy with the early returns from Holmgren. While it is just one quarter of play against lesser competition, it is still a positive sign of things to come for the youngster. As he gets more experience playing NBA basketball, hopes are high that he would only get better.