There aren't many better ways the 2026-27 NBA season could've started for the OKC Thunder.
Oklahoma City got its long-awaited revenge against the San Antonio Spurs in a 116-104 victory Tuesday night. There are positives on all fronts for OKC, but the most needed, and maybe one of the more surprising turnouts, was the assertive two-way play of Chet Holmgren.
After his abysmal four points and four rebounds in their ill-fated Western Conference Finals Game 7 matchup against the Spurs, many wrote him off as an ineffective weapon in the matchup.
Of course, as made evident in their season opener, this couldn't be further from the truth.
Holmgren took command in his latest bout against San Antonio, serving as the primary defender for Victor Wembanyama, who, not coincidentally, went 1-for-13 from the field.
On offense, he also showed his force, attacking smaller defenders and showing zero hesitation.
His performance gives an entirely new outlook on this wondrous rivalry and helps prove he's worth every penny of his $41 million salary.
Chet Holmgren's defensive performance a game-changer for Thunder
A point of frustration in this matchup has been the lack of Holmgren-Wembanyama matchups, specifically Chet guarding Wemby.
He had only 29 possessions guarding him in their seven-game playoff series, just the third-most on the team.
Without Holmgren on him, there would be either a drastic size or speed mismatch, ultimately crippling OKC's defense at times.
This game, though, the All-Defense member lived up to the honor. He followed Wemby virtually everywhere he went and wasn't afraid to get in body battles under the basket with him.
This hard-nosed approach flourished, with Chet swatting four shots and personally playing a significant role in Wemby shooting a shockingly bad 7.7 percent from the floor.
The coaches and Holmgren alike have finally put full trust in his impeccable defensive instincts and timing. His defensive prowess was a significant strength all game and helped limit Wemby to only two offensive rebounds and four turnovers.
His defensive performance was a dream come true for Thunder fans, and his offensive game was the cherry on top.
Easy offense everything Thunder fans could have asked for
Even against non-San Antonio opponents, Chet not attacking mismatches has hurt his offense significantly, but this game was quite the opposite.
Even in an imperfect-scoring game for the Thunder, with Jalen Williams still not his All-Star self, they managed to put up 116 points against one of the best defenses in the NBA.
Holmgren's 14 points were a standout, with his eight free throws being the second-most in his career against the Spurs.
It wasn't pretty at times; he shot just 37.5 percent from the floor, and Wembanyama blocked multiple attempts, but he brought needed pressure inside.
Chet snagged four of the club's 10 offensive rebounds, helping keep the Thunder even on the offensive glass, an area the team was clearly outdueled in during the WCF.
The stat sheet may suggest a typical Chet Holmgren game, but his impact on both ends of the ball paved the way for their momentous season-opening victory.
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