The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t have to wait until the playoffs for Chet Holmgren to quiet his critics. Elite players keep growing after a postseason setback. He averaged just 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game during the conference finals against the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama dominated Holmgren, and the Thunder’s star has been forced to hear about it all offseason. The motivation coupled with the hard work will help Chet follow in the footsteps of players like Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum.
Brunson had a breakout third season in Dallas only to struggle in a seven-game playoff series just like Holmgren did. JB’s minutes went down as the series wore on, but the 6’2 guard was determined to never let it happen again. He instantly reached new heights in year four and outplayed the maximum contract the Mavericks were allowed to offer. This all played a role in him going to the Knicks and winning a title.
Tatum’s playoff struggles happened in year two, only for him to leap to third-team All-NBA in the following season. Even superstars can struggle in a small sample size of one playoff series. Be it the matchup or the moment, that doesn’t define their careers. Chet is a special talent, and he will follow exactly what Brunson and Tatum did early in their careers.
Chet Holmgren is about to reach a new level
The 24-year-old helped the Thunder become elite from his first NBA game. They have won 75.9 percent of their regular-season contests with Holmgren in the lineup. OKC has made the playoffs three times, played in two conference finals, won seven playoff series, and took home a championship in his first three years.
Holmgren is the second-best defender in the world behind Wemby, but his offensive game will take another step forward. His scoring and efficiency keep improving. Holmgren now realizes that nothing is certain. He knows that he needs to put in the extra work and be ready for anything in the biggest moments.
Expect improved shooting and some Wemby counters to be added to Chet’s game. Holmgren knows the Spurs’ superstar is not going anywhere. It will be a rivalry for years to come. The Thunder’s star isn’t just going to let Wembanyama dominate this matchup. Improvements are coming.
Chet Holmgren will make everyone forget his struggles by the playoffs
Nobody will be talking about his awful conference finals series after seeing Holmgren’s growth. They will be discussing his improved jumper, added offensive tricks, and overall defensive impact. There will be talk about him dethroning Wemby as the Defensive Player of the Year and whether he has graduated to first- or second-team All-NBA status.
Sports analysis comes and goes quickly. Fans may bring it back up before the Thunder face the Spurs in the 2027 playoffs, but it will be old news. The talk will be about Holmgren’s growth and how it impacts this year’s matchup.
Brunson and Tatum are far from the only two champions and future Hall of Famers who instantly improved after a playoff disappointment. Those postseason failures are a rite of passage in the NBA. Superstars come back better than ever, and Thunder fans know Holmgren deserves to be in those conversations.
The franchise knows. Head coach Mark Daigneault instantly downplayed these issues and stuck up for Holmgren. There was zero talk of OKC trading away the superstar, despite a max contract kicking in. The Thunder are committed to Holmgren because they know just how special he is.
The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t have to wait long for Chet Holmgren to quiet his doubters. Superstars reach new heights after playoff disappointments. The 7’1 big man will be better than ever this season and change the narrative completely. That is what the best do, and Holmgren is a legend in the making.
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