The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to an NBA record-tying 24-1 start to the season. They're already one of the greatest teams ever assembled. And while the Thunder's increasing collection of draft picks is a wild circumstance, it's not even the biggest reason the rest of the league has to be afraid of them. That distinction would belong to the otherworldly upside of Chet Holmgren.
When fans of other NBA teams talk about the Thunder, they routinely go to the draft picks as the first reason to fear Oklahoma City. It's certainly true that the thought of this team adding an AJ Dybantsa or a Cam Boozer next summer is a harrowing thought for other teams to have, but Holmgren's continued development may just be even scarier.
Holmgren has turned a big developmental corner this season. His efficiency at all three levels keeps rising, his rim protection has become even stronger, and he's reading defensive coverages with the kind of precision you would usually see from veteran bigs. The scary part is that he's doing all of it without needing high usage.
Chet Holmgren's rise is key to OKC's dynasty
What makes Holmgren such a unique threat is how directly he accelerates the identity Mark Daigneault has built. He closes out defensive possessions and initiates fast breaks with hit-ahead passes, and he stretches opposing centers out to the perimeter where they simply cannot keep up with him. Opponents are constantly forced to choose between surrendering size or surrendering spacing, and neither option works.
The Thunder have also leaned heavily into lineups built around versatility and length. Holmgren is central to that strategy because he gives them rim protection without sacrificing speed. It allows Oklahoma City to switch more actions and shrink the floor in ways most teams can't replicate. When he's on the court, the Thunder’s defensive rating improves significantly, and their offense becomes more dynamic as well.
The other key point here is that Holmgren is still nowhere near his ceiling. He continues to add strength and expand his confidence as a creator. Oklahoma City already has a championship, the best record in basketball, and one of the deepest young cores in the league, yet their long-term future hinges most on how far Holmgren can climb. If this season is any indication, he's positioning himself to be one of the most dominant two-way players in the sport.
This is exactly why the rest of the NBA should be worried. The Thunder were already ahead of schedule last season, but now they're establishing themselves as the standard for how to build and sustain a contender. Holmgren’s rise is the biggest reason why their window is turning into a flat-out dynasty.