For the first time since suffering a season-ending foot injury, the number 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chet Holmgren, spoke to those of us at the media at the OKC Thunder practice facility. Holmgren wheeled in on a scooter, still not able to put weight on his right foot, but that has not stopped him from maintaining a positive attitude.
Each player at Media Day on Monday praised Holmgren’s mindset with this injury and “attacking the rehab” as the 6th overall pick in the 2021 draft Josh Giddey put it. Holmgren did not go into detail about his rehab process right now, he did explain that he is in the team facility from about 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, then returns to “support the guys” during their afternoon practice.
Chet Holmgren informs the Oklahoma City Thunder media that he has talked to 76ers superstar Joel Embiid and Embiid’s trainer about his injury
The Oklahoma City Thunder fanbase is of course disappointed in not getting to see their new franchise cornerstone for a year, but he by no means is the first NBA star to miss the first season of his professional career.
As the press conference continued, Chet Holmgren explained that he has reached out to Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid, as well as the trainers Joel Embiid works with to discuss the rehab process, the trials and adversity, and how to handle missing the start of his NBA career. Embiid missed his first two seasons in the NBA after being selected 3rd overall back in 2014 out of the University of Kansas.
Chet Holmgren said he spoke to Joel Embiid about his experience missing his first season in the NBA, and some of Embiid’s trainers.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 29, 2022
Even within his own building, fellow big man and lottery pick Nick Collison missed his first NBA season with a shoulder injury. Collison went on to have a successful career in the league and is the first member of the Oklahoma City Thunder organization to have his jersey retired. Collison is still on staff and Holmgren called the Kansas product a “great resource.”
This is just yet another positive sign in Chet Holmgren’s rehab process. While it is disappointing that he will miss an entire season, from everything we have heard about Holmgren, he is well equipped to handle this adversity.