Chet Holmgren’s Hot Start has him in Early Awards Contention
After a year-long wait, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is finally frequenting NBA contests. And his impact has already reverberated throughout the league.
Drafted second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren is an easy start for Oklahoma City at the five, galvanizing an already talented lineup with shot-blocking, efficient scoring from inside the arc and stretch shooting.
So far, he’s done all that and more.
Through seven games, the lengthy 7-footer is already averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.4 blocks per game. Perhaps most impressively, he’s shot 56% from the field and a scorching 54% from beyond the arc.
And then there’s the team’s success. While OKC has dropped a few games they likely shouldn’t have, they’re off to a 4-3 start, with wins over the Bulls, Cavaliers, Pistons and Hawks. Undoubtedly, Holmgren has been a big part of that,
Holmgren’s individual success, mixed with Oklahoma City’s moderate start to the season, have already garnered league-wide attention, especially regarding accolades.
Holmgren started the year with the third-best odds to win the coveted Rookie of the Year Award, behind only 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama and Trail Blazers’ guard Scoot Henderson, who were both top-three picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Now, the former Gonzaga Bulldog has already moved past Henderson to the second-best odds, and is quickly closing the gap on Wembanyama, who sits at -350.
The real surprise so far is that Holmgren may even be playing his way into an All-Star bid, something that's generated more hype than most initially thought. It will still be a stretch for the 21-year-old to earn his All-Star stripes this season, but he's effectively been Oklahoma City's second-best player so far.
If Holmgren continues to improve, and if the Thunder can climb the Western Conference standings, it may be hard for voters to leave Holmgren's name off the list.
For now, the Thunder will continue to keep their heads down and trudge through a tough early-season schedule. Holmgren and co. take on the Cavaliers again at 7 p.m. tonight in Paycom Center.
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