Chet Holmgren showing flashes of the player Thunder desperately needed

Chet Holmgren left a bad taste in the mouths of OKC Thunder fans with his last game of the 2026-27 season.

In a win-or-go-home affair against the San Antonio Spurs, the big man contributed just four points on two shot attempts when Oklahoma City desperately needed someone other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to step up.

Though he's not entirely to blame, as basketball is a team sport, Holmgren drew a ton of criticism and accusatory fingers for his shortcomings in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, leading many to question whether he's capable of becoming the kind of cornerstone the Thunder are banking on him to be.

Fortunately, it seems the 7-footer has been using this backlash as fuel for a highly active offseason, as recently surfaced video clips from the PLYRS UNTD runs have been highlighting some of his on-court advancements from both a physicality, assertiveness, and effectiveness standpoint.

Thunder star Chet Holmgren showcasing deep bag of tricks this summer

While playing intense pick-up games with fellow NBA studs such as Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and Michael Porter Jr., Holmgren was seen showcasing a ton of skills that, quite frankly, the Thunder desperately needed from him during last year's postseason clash with the Spurs.

From initiating the offense coming down the floor as a handler and stepping into long-range jumpers to beating his man off the dribble and darting to the rack for a ferocious flush, Chet seemed to be locked in and willingly gunning to get involved in in-game action alongside his league peers.

This is merely the latest example of Holmgren putting in serious work to improve himself for his fourth active season in the association, which also happens to be year one of his new five-year max extension.

Regularly, photos and videos have circulated on social media of him either putting in the time working on drills on the hardwood or working in the weight room.

Despite the unflattering end to his campaign, 2025-26 proved to be a career-best season all-around for the Thunder big, as he would post stellar all-around averages of 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks on 55.7 percent shooting from the floor and 36.2 percent shooting from deep while earning All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive nods along the way.

He would also finish second behind Victor Wembanyama in the Defensive Player of the Year race.

Now, heading into next season, the hope is that this is now the floor for Holmgren's on-court successes. Hopefully, the efforts he's putting into this offseason will lead him to an even better version of the player the Thunder have already won a title with.

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