Chet Holmgren proving he can no longer be ignored in All-Star conversation

Chet Holmgren deserves far more respect.
Sacramento Kings v Oklahoma City Thunder
Sacramento Kings v Oklahoma City Thunder | William Purnell/GettyImages

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is obviously on track to earn another All-Star selection, but will any of his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates join him in Los Angeles?

Big man Chet Holmgren is making a strong case for himself.

SGA is unquestionably the best player on the team and arguably the best player in the NBA. Players such as Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Joe are stepping up as well. But OKC features a number of impactful players who probably won't be All-Stars this season.

There's a chance that Gilgeous-Alexander will be the Thunder's only representative in the game. Holmgren is a legitimate candidate, though.

Thunder big Chet Holmgren deserves All-Star respect

Holmgren, a 23-year-old former No. 2 overall pick, has yet to earn an NBA All-Star selection. He missed his entire first season due to an injury, so his rookie year came in 2023-24.

Holmgren performed well, ultimately finishing second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting. It was clear he featured All-Star potential.

The Thunder big man was limited to 32 games played during the 2024-25 campaign, however. He once again displayed his high ceiling while on the floor, but he simply did not play enough to earn serious All-Star consideration.

This season, Holmgren is recording impressive numbers across 12 games played. He is averaging 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per outing. Additionally, Holmgren is shooting 59.9 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Holmgren's 1.4 blocks per outing average is tied for 13th in the entire league, per NBA.com.

He contributes in multiple ways on the floor. Holmgren can block a shot on the defensive end of the floor and finish on a lob or find the bottom of the net from deep on offense.

He fits today's NBA especially well given his versatility as a big man.

The Thunder hold the best record in the league at the moment, and they would not be where they are without Holmgren. His impact on Oklahoma City has been undeniable.

As long as he can stay healthy, Holmgren will be a true All-Star candidate this year. Injuries have been a problem for him at times, however, so he will need to find a way to stay on the floor.

Nevertheless, the sky's the limit for Chet Holmgren, who is hoping to help the Thunder repeat as champions this season following their NBA Finals run a year ago.