There's no denying that, as things currently stand, OKC Thunder star Chet Holmgren is already viewed as one of the best bigs the NBA has to offer.
Measuring in at 7-foot-1 and in possession of an elite 3&D game, the 23-year-old is truly a wunderkind type of talent who's just barely scratching the surface of his full potential.
Of course, when discussing Holmgren, it's hard not to focus on his incredibly slender frame, as the center weighs in at a mere 208 pounds with little visible muscle mass.
His lack of bulk and strength compared to others at his position has arguably held the third-year big back somewhat, as his build has forced him to become far more of a perimeter and mid-range dweller rather than a low-post, interior problem.
Through two seaons, only 39.7 percent of his attempts from throughout his career coming at the rim.
However, this summer, Holmgren appears to be looking to add some much-needed size, and, if he can properly pack on the pounds, he could finally take that next step in his career progression by becoming more of a menacing presence down in the paint.
Thunder big Chet Holmgren has been working to add size this summer
It didn't take long after helping the Thunder take home their first Larry O'Brien Trophy in franchise history for Holmgren to make his way back into the "Lab," as he calls it, and work on improving himself for the 2025-26 campaign.
Throughout the summer, his workouts have been well-documented and shared regularly on social media, with a consistent image being him doing some sort of lifting exercise. One of the most recent recordings that made its rounds on social was of him performing a landmine shoulder press.
Heading into last year's campaign, Holmgren admitted that he worked extensively on his shooting stroke throughout the 2024 offseason, as his desire was to improve upon his 37.0 percent clip from deep in his rookie year.
Excitingly enough, his training throughout the summer seemed to have worked, as he was cashing home on 40.0 percent of his attempts from deep through nine healthy games before being shelved for three months with a right iliac wing fracture and, in turn, being thrown out of his groove.
Now, instead of attributes, it seems that Holmgren is prioritizing his physical health ahead of his junior go-around, which, if he can add more muscle and, in turn, strength to his game, there may be no clear way for an opposing player to properly game plan for him.
Heading into year three, the hope now is that these summer training sessions can once again translate to more on-court success during the regular season.
He's already got the height, defensive prowess, and long-range game secured. If he can add more strength, the rest of the league will need to watch out!