Chet Holmgren has a lot of pressure on him, a fact it seems like he relishes in. With the best pick Sam Presti has received from the NBA Lottery during this rebuild, a lot rests on the shoulders of the second-overall pick.
The fanbase was buzzing when the OKC Thunder saw their pick leap up to the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and even more excited when they nabbed their next franchise cornerstone in Chet Holmgren with that selection at the June Draft.
Despite all the jolly feelings, optimism, and true excitement for the upcoming season, the Oklahoma City Thunder fanbase was dealt a massive gut punch when Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc fracture during a pro-am event in Seattle. The injury will sideline him for the entire 2022-23 season, making the wait excruciating. As if you received a wrapped Christmas present on December 26th that you can not open until the following holiday.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are excited about what Chet Holmgren can bring to the team, and he is already showing great signs of maturity
Chet Holmgren has taken this injury in stride. Showing up to every workout, training camp, practice, and home game ready to support his teammates and do any on-court work that he can. However, a few events off the court show his maturity and strong character for the 2nd overall pick.
Holmgren almost immediately got in contact with Joel Embiid after it was announced the Gonzaga product would miss the entire season. Embiid suffered the same fate his first two NBA seasons before eventually posting MVP-caliber seasons for the 76ers.
Now, a New York Times article was released on the seven-footer who had some profound thoughts about his predicament.
“We are winning games at the buzzer, we are losing games at the buzzer,” Holmgren told the New York Times, “We’re winning games by four pints, we’re losing games by four points. It’s not like we’re losing every 30. I don’t have to try to come in and be Superman. I just have to figure out how to help make this team 5 points better and then keep building from there.”
While I have no doubt Holmgren is itching to return to the hardwood and prove he is an incredible player that warrants the high selection, but to have the wherewithal to understand that despite wanting to prove to everyone you are the right selection and instead to know you just have to play your role is clear maturity from the 20-year-old big man.