Throughout the offseason, OKC Thunder big man Chet Holmgren has been receiving substantial buzz regarding his candidacy for the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award, with many viewing him as being in a two-man race with Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama.
Some are even convinced that the hardware will ultimately be his if he can meet the league-mandated 65-game minimum. Unfortunately, when looking at his health-related track record, this could be seen as a rather big if.
However, when considering the 23-year-old's game as a whole, it's obvious that he's much more than just a defensive linchpin. His three-level scoring game and continually evolving rebounding skills all but solidify the center as a true two-way frontcourt weapon.
Now, heading into his third season of action, should he remain healthy while showcasing his all-around skillset on a consistent basis, there's a good chance that, come year's end, Holmgren could find himself in the running for another major honor outside of DPOY.
Thunder big Chet Holmgren could be a Most Improved Player favorite
Since his debut campaign back in 2023-24, when he finished second in the Rookie of the Year race to Wembanyama, expectations for Holmgren's career trajectory have gone through the roof.
At 7-foot-2, the big man can swat shots at an elite rate (7.5 blocks percentage for his career), flush it home with ease from inside the restricted area (shoots 75.7 percent at the rim), and stroke it from beyond the arc (37.2 three-point percentage).
Unfortunately, the hype surrounding a second-year surge in his production was dramatically halted just 10 games into 2024-25, as the Thunder stud went down with a right iliac wing fracture that sidelined him for three months of action.
Even after he returned to the hardwood in early February, it was obvious that Holmgren struggled to find his pre-injury groove.
Before his hip ailment, Holmgren was kicking off year two in a major way, as he was dropping sensational averages of 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.9 blocks on 51.9 percent shooting from the floor and 40.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc through nine fully healthy games to start the year.
This type of production led many to believe that he was on his way to not only his first All-Star nod, but, considering the major jump in virtually all of his numbers compared to the year prior, a real shot at taking home the league's Most Improved Player award as well.
Sadly, this hot start was followed up with a middling finish that, in the end, had Holmgren's numbers dip below his rookie year metrics, as he wrapped with averages of 15.0 points and 2.2 blocks per game on 49.0 percent shooting from the field (all regressions from year one).
Coming into 2025-26, the Thunder big man looks hell-bent on putting forth a campaign that trumps all the ones that have come before, as he's been hard at work in the gym this summer honing his craft on the court.
If he can find a way to tap back into his pre-injury form from last season, while maintaining his defensive excellence, there should be little doubt that Chet Holmgren will be a serious contender for the Most Improved Player award come year's end.