Chet Holmgren has the right mentality for NBA success
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder selected Chet Holmgren with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga. At the time, Holmgren was viewed as a franchise-altering selection in that big-man spot.
Then, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced Chet Holmgren would miss the entire 2022-23 NBA season. A lot changed since then. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became an NBA Superstar, Jalen Williams finished runner-up in Rookie of the Year, Mark Daigneault nearly nabbed the Coach of the Year award, and the Thunder surprisingly own 40 games with a trip to the play-in tournament.
One thing that has not changed is the potential Chet Holmgren possesses. He instantly fills in the holes that were left behind by last year’s spunky squad with the ceiling of the perfect modern NBA big man.
Chet Holmgren has the right mentality to find a lot of success in the NBA with latest press conference answer.
The OKC Thunder have gotten off to a fast start, the first 2-0 record out of the shoot since Russell Westbrook’s MVP season. Chet Holmgren had a solid debut but really stole the show in game two against Cleveland.
Chet Holmgren was dominant in a contest that saw the Oklahoma City Thunder make a ten points in two minutes comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He not only hauled in 13 rebounds and swatted a record-breaking 7 shots, but he also chipped in 16 points on 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
Chet Holmgren: “First game, I had 0 blocks and 4 rebounds. I thought that was unlike myself. I hold myself to a standard. And I felt like that was unacceptable.”
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) October 28, 2023
Second game, Chet had 7 blocks and 13 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/vAbvBRntdx
That was a powerful response by Chet Holmgren after his debut featured zero blocked shots and just four boards. The accountability from Holmgren following that impressive second game, capped off by a thrilling win, to still hold himself to a higher “standard” than his solid debut just shows how special he can be.
Chet Holmgren has been praised before for his mentality by people within the walls of the NBA, but the OKC Thunder, but this was on full display for everyone. Following an emotional game to be so in tune with what your standard for play is and the self-evaluation of when you do and do not meet said standard is key in filling the lofty expectations put on Holmgren’s career.
Holmgren has the right mentality to be able to pull off something special with this core. For the first time in his career, he is set to play in the Paycom Center for a regular season NBA game. Fans will warmly welcome Holmgren to the lineup against Denver on Sunday.
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Next. Chet Holmgren calls out the NBA for missed stat. dark