Mark Daigneault Dishes on Chet Holmgren Finding His Rhythm

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still seeing Chet Holmgren return to performance after suffering a major hip injury earlier this season. Mark Daigneault explained that process.

Mar 25, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) looks towards the team bench after a foul call against the Sacramento Kings in the second quarter at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

After Chet Holmgren suffered a hip fracture on Nov. 10, the timeline for his return was speculated on and ball parked for months. However, Holmgren was able to return on Feb. 7, before even the Thunder's window issued in a team statement hours after the injury.

That garnered Holmgren plenty of well deserved praise for the way he attacked his rehab and the way his body responded to it. The seven-footer is coming back from an injury that no one has suffered before in the history of the NBA.

Since Feb. 7, Holmgren has played in 17 games, averaging 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.7 stocks per game 47% from the floor, 34% from beyond the arc and 67% from the charity stripe.

The Gonzaga product is still working his way back into a groove and Mark Daigneault discussed how important these upcoming games are to round out the regular season.

“Critical, but not something to be forced. He’s gotta work back. He’s not fully himself yet, and he’s missed some time recently with a couple maintenance things. But you can’t force rhythm. It’s like you’re at a wedding (saying) ‘dance better.’ That’s not gonna happen. You just gotta dance to the music. That’s what he needs to do," Daigneault explained at practice on Tuesday afternoon.

Oklahoma City still has seven games to go in the regular season plus a week off heading into Game 1 of the First Round, the Thunder have time to let Holmgren dance better, as the bench boss would say.