OKC Thunder 2nd overall pick Chet Holmgren: “This is where I want to be”

The Oklahoma City Thunder leaped up to the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery, which could be a franchise-changing event. Draft day finally rolled around last week, and on Thursday, after the Orlando Magic pulled off a rare draft day stunner at the top by selecting Paolo Banchero, the OKC Thunder were on the clock. Picking between Jabari Smith Jr and Chet Holmgren, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti elected to go with his guy Chet Holmgren.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping Chet Holmgren becomes a superstar. He is a seven-footer with guard-like skills. Holmgren has a unique ability to go coast to coast off a rebound, playmaking through the post and off the bounce, his three-point shooting was off the chart turning in 40 percent from beyond the arc, fantastic rotations defensive with an elite shot-blocking ability, and while getting his stock to 2nd overall pick status, Holmgren was not maximized at Gonzaga.

The 2022 NBA Draft rumor mill never stopped this offseason, every day it was a new rumor from OKC loving Jaden Ivey, to trading up from 12 to Chet Holmgren’s medical information, did workouts happen or not happen? Does anyone want to play for the Kings? One of the constant rumors was about which team’s prospects preferred and on Saturday Chet Holmgren was asked about the report that OKC was his preferred destination.

The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren with the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Gonzaga center said “This is where I want to be.”

The OKC Thunder are in a small market, and fans live in constant fear that once a player bursts onto the scene, their time in Bricktown will be over before you know it. With scares that have yet to heal from Kevin Durant dipping to the Bay area, and NBA Twitter attempting to trade for every competent player on the roster, it is natural to have these insecurities within the fanbase.

That makes it even more eye-opening and important when multiple prospects discuss wanting to play in Oklahoma City. It is much better than the alternative where multiple prospects say they do not want to play for the Kings, even current Kings guard Davion Mitchell is in that boat.

Last year, Josh Giddey told multiple stories about how he was pleading with his agent to get to Oklahoma City, and this year early on in the process we heard that Chet Holmgren preferred to be in OKC.

On Saturday, Chet Holmgren was asked about that report and said now that he is officially a member of the Thunder, he can confirm “This is where I want to be.” 

It is important to have a player who wants to be here, who embraces the organization and the city, and while it does not promise anything it is a better start than the alternative.

I know you might be thinking “of course, he is going to say that” but it is important to note these reports came out before the draft, and I can confirm he “bailed” on the Orlando Magic workout portion of their in-market meeting in an attempt to not be selected first overall and instead fall to OKC.