Thunder Rookie Center Discusses Former OKC Superstar

Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren recently made an appearance on an episode of "All the Smoke", a podcast hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

Holmgren discussed a number of topics on the show, including one of the players who inspired the former No. 2 overall pick's versatile skill set. In the episode, Barnes and Jackson said that Holmgren is their pick for Rookie of the Year.

Later in the show, Holmgren said that he likes Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid. Holmgren continued, saying that Durant has been a player who has had a major impact on his game.

"I've been watching Durant since I started playing," Holmgren said.

For such a skilled big man of Holmgren's age, it is no surprise that Durant was an inspiration to the 7-footer. The former Thunder wing was a pioneer for players with his body style, helping open the door for a new era of players who followed.

Brandon Ingram is another player who has seemingly taken some of Durant's influences and implemented them in his own play style.

The ball handling, passing and shooting ability of Durant, who is close to 7-foot himself, is similar to that of Holmgren. While Holmgren's skills may not be quite as refined as Durant's were at the same age, the former Gonzaga center is taller and has longer arms.

Still, it is easy to see the influence that Durant had on Holmgren's skills. Holmgren is skilled enough to take the ball off the rim on one end of the court before going coast-to-coast for a score.

Throughout the Summer League, the rookie center showed off his skill, also beating defenders off the dribble from the perimeter multiple times.

Holmgren would have been around 9-years-old when Durant and Russell Westbrook's Thunder teams were beginning to take the league by storm. This has resulted in many of the young players on the team admitting that they watched OKC growing up due to the entertaining superstar players leading the young squad.

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