Inside The Thunder

'I Knew Chet Was a Great Player': Jalen Suggs Not Surprised by Holmgren’s Rookie Season

The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Chet Holmgren make a vast winning impact as a rookie, but this is no surprise to former teammate Jalen Suggs.
Rylan Stiles|
'I Knew Chet Was a Great Player': Jalen Suggs Not Surprised by Holmgren’s Rookie Season
'I Knew Chet Was a Great Player': Jalen Suggs Not Surprised by Holmgren’s Rookie Season

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Oklahoma City Thunder

Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren go way back.

Growing up as best friends in Minnesota, they debated who would make the NBA, discussed how cool it would be for both players to make it, and here they are. 

After dominating at Minnehaha Academy, they each went to Gonzaga a year apart and turned in successful seasons for the Bulldogs, respectively. Suggs was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, while Holmgren was selected second in the 2022 draft. 

After a Lisfranc fracture robbed the 2022-23 season from the seven-footer, Holmgren is back and dominating at the NBA level. 

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder blew past the Orlando Magic on national television. Prior to that game tipping off, Jalen Suggs was asked about Holmgren at shootaround that morning as the two got set to face each other for the second time in their NBA careers. 

"[Chet Holmgren] is playing well, doing what he needs to do, handling business out there...making an impact to winning, that is what he does, that is the person and player he is," Suggs said. 

When asked if he expected his big man best friend to make this impact right away as a rookie, Suggs exclaimed "Definitely. I knew Chet [Holmgren] was a great player, I have always seen that, to see him thrive and flourish on this level, this year, after being out all last year is a blessing. I am happy for him!" 

As a rookie big man, Holmgren is averaging 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.3 stocks per game while turning in shooting splits of 53/39/77.

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Rylan Stiles
RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network. 

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