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Thunder's Chet Holmgren Gave NBA Fans Wave of Nostalgia by Recreating Iconic Meme
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With just one caption on a picture posted to his Instagram account on Saturday, Thunder big man Chet Holmgren took NBA fans on a trip down memory lane. Oklahoma City defeated the Warriors 138—136 in overtime on Friday night, an emotional win for the young squad currently sporting a 14—7 record.
One picture from the contest of Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams showed just how emotional the win was, as the group of Thunder players celebrated in pure elation. But the picture also presented a huge opportunity for Holmgren, one that he seized, captioning the picture "Mom Made Pizza Rolls."
Chet with the elite reference 🤣
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 9, 2023
New era in OKC 🔥
(via chet_holmgren/IG) pic.twitter.com/GbX7sYTTox
The caption was a nod to an iconic meme involving former Thunder players Kevin Durant and James Harden, something that was not lost on NBA fans, who reacted to the wave of nostalgia that Holmgren provided.
Damn that meme brings back memories bro..
— david (@Davethe_King1) December 9, 2023
That is legendary, I missed that meme, thanks for bring it back chet
— Tyro Investing (@tyro_investing) December 9, 2023
Chet an All time Thunder
— Russ' TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) December 9, 2023
This isn't the only way Holmgren, a rising star, and the Thunder are providing fans with nostalgia, though. Oklahoma City, which entered the season with the second-youngest average age on their roster in the NBA, is anchored by a youthful core and possesses a bevy of draft picks, suggesting there is more young talent on the way.
Much like Durant's and Harden's Thunder, there is plenty of optimism around this Oklahoma City team, which has surprised fans on the court to start the season, posting the second-best record in the Western Conference. It remains to be seen if this core can reach the NBA Finals, as that Thunder team managed to do.
But Holmgren and company are giving fans reason to believe they can—and not just because of nostalgic memes.
Tim Capurso is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated, primarily covering MLB, college football and college basketball. Before joining SI in November 2023, Capurso worked at RotoBaller and ClutchPoints and is a graduate of Assumption University. When he's not working, he can be found at the gym, reading a book or enjoying a good hike. A resident of New York, Capurso openly wonders if the Giants will ever be a winning football team again.