Social Media Reacts to OKC Thunder Big Man Chet Holmgren's Return

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw Chet Holmgren return to the fold on Friday against the Toronto Raptors, after being sidelined with a hip fracture since Nov. 10 against the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder have boasted a 40-9 record to this point in the season, playing 39 of those tilts without its No. 2 overall pick in 2022. The seven-footer's return was highly anticipated and came earlier than most expected, returning before the NBA All-Star break, which many earmarked as a possible update for the rising star.

This also served as Bricktown's first glimpse at the Holmgren-Isaiah Hartenstein pairing, which has been expected since July. In the ten games Holmgren previous played, Hartenstein was sidelined with a hand injury. By the time the former Knick returned, Holmgren was in street clothes.

Taking away the five minutes Holmgren played against Golden State being suffering the injury, the rising star had taken a massive leap averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.5 stocks per game on 52/40/77 shooting splits.

In this game, starting alongside Hartenstein, Holmgren recieved a hero's welcome back to the court both inside the Paycom Center and across social media.

During his 18 minutes, Holmgren posted four points, five rebounds, one assist, four blocks and two steals while shooting 2-4 from the floor and 0-2 from beyond the arc to go along with a rare technical foul.

Chet Holmgren introduced as a Thunder starter. pic.twitter.com/w1OYxCbrWj
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) February 8, 2025

Chet Block!
— Tayler Peterson (@Tayler_P15) February 8, 2025

That Chet Holmgren turnaround middy is impossible to guard at his size.
— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) February 8, 2025

Chet Holmgren's first block in his return is on rookie big man Jonathan Mogbo.

Chet follows it up with a big block on Gradey Dick two possessions later.

OKC crowd goes nuts over the Dick block.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 8, 2025

Chet is back.

(@ThunderFilmRoom)pic.twitter.com/ZD9kkNTGVU
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 8, 2025

A side-effect of the double-big lineups drawing interior presences away. All of OKC's guards are going to be equipped to pass out if help comes, too.

Lethal stuff. https://t.co/K5jDoKrI3r
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) February 8, 2025

Had no doubt it would be this way, but good to see Chet not shying away or un confident. He’s been in the mix a lot defensively.
— Matt Ravis (@mattravis) February 8, 2025

i love Chet
— TF (@ThunderFocus) February 8, 2025

That hip injury robbed Chet of a DPOY
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) February 8, 2025

Chet Holmgren has four blocks in his return.

Pretty, pretty good.
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) February 8, 2025

Want to join the discussion? Like Thunder on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.