Chet Holmgren Talks Offseason Work with Kevin Durant
This offseason, the Thunder future merged with the past.
Chet Holmgren, in his first NBA offseason — which was really more of an extension of his missed season — was able to compete against and pick the brain of former Thunder star Kevin Durant.
Holmgren was seen on social media playing with Durant in a few pickup runs featuring plenty of other NBA-ers, including Hawks point guard Trae Young.
At Thunder Media Day on Monday, Holmgren expanded on what he and Durant talked about.
“A lot of our talks had to do with the game itself of basketball and how do we do this, how do we do that,” Holmgren said. “A lot of questions being asked from me about the game because he’s seen it all and done it all and knows what it takes.
There’s natural comparisons to be drawn between Holmgren and Durant, despite them having vastly different styles of play.
While Holmgren is more of a natural center and Durant more perimeter-based and wing, both have similarly slender frames, began their careers in OKC, among other things.
While Holmgren hasn’t yet perfected the art of on-ball shot creation, he’s shown here and there an uncanny resemblance to the Suns’ forward. And there’s plenty Holmgren can takeaway from the 13-time All-Star and former MVP.
“Just trying to learn the game from him, and I had some Thunder staff with me out there this summer and he knows a lot of people in the building. He’s great. He’s always spreading the love and it’s all love coming from him. Somebody might tell me to tell him what’s up whenever I see him, and he’ll say the same back. It’s all love. Kevin is a great dude, and it was great being able to work with him and get better.”
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