Chet Holmgren shines for OKC Thunder in 2023 Las Vegas Summer League debut
Nearly a year since his memorable NBA Summer League debut, Chet Holmgren looked just as comfortable in his return for the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Arena.
Holmgren finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks to help the Oklahoma City Thunder outlast the Dallas Mavericks, 91-80. He also shot 5-for-10 from the field and 5-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Two quick fouls and a trip to the bench didn't deter the former Gonzaga men's basketball standout, who made his presence felt on both ends of the floor. After finishing off an alley-oop for his first points of the afternoon, the 7-footer altered a shot at the rim from Chris Silva, trailed the pack in transition and knocked down a 26-footer to spark an 8-0 run for the Thunder.
Holmgren finished the first quarter showing off his hustle and footwork, as he snagged a missed 3-point attempt from Jaden Shackelford and dipped up and under the defense to stuff home a two-hand dunk.
Holmgren had the highlight of the afternoon on an emphatic chase-down block on Brandon Randolph early in the second quarter.
As a playmaker, Holmgren's handle appeared to be a little loose, especially on the drives to the rim. He seemed comfortable in the pick-and-roll though, delivering a dime to Jaylin Williams for an easy layup to beat the double-team.
After a quiet third quarter, Holmgren put up seven points in the fourth to help the Thunder shut the door on the Mavericks for good. As he snatched down his tenth rebound of the night, he fired a deep outlet pass to a wide-open Williams over 90 feet away downcourt.
Just as he did during his Gonzaga days, Holmgren insisted on sharing the spotlight with his teammates as he strung his arms around Carson Wallace and Shackelford during his postgame interview.
All 30 NBA teams will play at least five games in the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League, but after each team has played its first four games, the top four will advance to the playoffs consisting of a semifinal and championship matchup.
Holmgren and the Thunder are back in action on Tuesday at 2:30 pm PST against the Houston Rockets on NBA TV.
