Since his Western Conference Finals implosion on national television last season, OKC Thunder star Chet Holmgren has faced heavy scrutiny. He has been under fire for letting Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs bully him on both ends of the floor.
His struggles culminated in Game 7, where he attempted just two shots and was rarely seen matching up against Wemby on the defensive end.
Many thought the series would be a source of motivation for Holmgren as he entered the offseason, and his flurry of online training clips was thought to be evidence of progress. As it turns out, however, his work in the weight room may not have amounted to much, thus creating yet another uphill battle in his quest to best San Antonio's star big man.
Chet Holmgren clearly failed to close gap between him and Wemby
On Sunday, the Thunder released their official training camp roster. Holmgren's weight was listed at 215. Last year, he was listed at 213.
His meager two-pound weight gain is a far cry from what many were hoping to see as he attempts to close the gap between him and some of the rest of the bigs around the league.
For context, Wembanyama is listed at 240 on the Spurs' official camp roster.
While Wemby also has three inches on OKC's 7-footer, the weight disparity can't be understated. Wemby already used it to his advantage last season, and there is no reason to believe he won't be able to do it again.
In fact, the size difference between the two is so drastic that Holmgren had to be schemed away from ths Spurs star for much of the series.
In his place, fellow rim protector Isaiah Hartenstein had to take on most of the Wemby duties, while Chet was pushed further away from the rim. It all but nullified his elite shot-blocking ability.
His 1.1 blocks in the seven-game set were well below his career average.
Thunder may have to solve Chet Holmgren's Wemby problem for him
While Holmgren's two-pound gain is better than nothing, it doesn't change much of the dynamic between the two teams. Holmgren will still likely lack the physicality necessary to guard the opposing star, thus forcing Hartenstein to stay tied to his hip.
The situation further adds to the obscurity of Holmgren's game. Being 7-foot-1 and coming off a season in which he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, one might think he could adequately defend others at his position.
But with Wemby, he has to be moved further away. It's a bit of brutal irony that doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon.
Perhaps, with the first-round addition of Aday Mara, Holmgren will be able to find a more permanent home further away from the rim. His blocks would indeed take a hit, but his length and mobility could play well against bigger forwards.
He has spent the last few years gaining experience at the four, and this could be the year the Thunder make the move permanent, thus ridding Chet of his Wemby problem for good.
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