OKC Thunder big Chet Holmgren took the league by storm in 2023-24 and quickly became a popular choice among fans and pundits alike to be recognized as one of the future faces of the league.
With his combination of size (7-foot-1), defensive instincts, and offensive abilities, throughout his short-lived professional tenure, the youngster has already found himself being likened to some of the game's most legendary players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, one of the most exciting aspects of his game has proven to be his shooting stroke, specifically from long-range, as he managed to cash in on an efficient 37.0 percent of his 3-point attempts during his runner-up Rookie of the Year debut campaign.
Though many players of his size and length would likely be thrilled to have such a conversion rate from deep, this summer the, now, sophomore took it upon himself to try and improve his perimeter game and adopted a particular approach that was aimed at completely restructuring his shooting form.
To Holmgren, focusing on honing his arc rather than shooting the ball flat was a priority during his offseason workouts, and while the idea is certainly respectable, so far through preseason the execution has looked awkward at best.
Thunder big Chet Holmgren showcasing awkward shooting mechanics
In the past, the Thunder stud has admitted that he feels his previous way of shooting relied too much on his guide (left) hand, which, technically speaking, is not proper protocol when it comes to executing the perfect form.
As a result, Holmgren spent the summer working on his shot in an effort to make it more by the book.
Unfortunately, from the eye test, things don't appear to be trending in the right direction, for, in two games played during the preseason festivities, it appears he may have become a bit less efficient in this area of the game that, frankly, really set him apart from his first-year peers.
When analyzing the current state of his jumper, it appears to be far less fluid and the predominant use of his right arm seems overemphasized.
Finding the open man 🔎 pic.twitter.com/dy3YIY8B4R
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 10, 2024
What's more concerning is that these underwhelming visuals are only backed up by lackluster shooting splits to this point in time. Yes, on the surface his average of 10 points on 58.3 percent shooting in only a half of play per game thus far is certainly solid, but what's paramount for fans to understand is that all but one of his makes have come at the rim.
Out of his 12 total shot attempts in the preseason, four have been taken outside of the painted area where he's shooting a miserable 25.0 percent.
Now, granted, the big man has only registered a combined 25.5 minutes of action this preseason, so the sample size is without question quite small. Nevertheless, this dip in productivity in the shooting department could be viewed as a bit concerning for some to see.
Hopefully, as time goes on and we make our way into the regular season the Thunder big can find a way to get into a rhythm and make all of his offseason work pay off. Even Chet Holmgren himself stated when talking about his summer shooting work that "sometimes you have to go backward to go forwards," though, at the moment, it's clear that he's taken multiple steps back.
Here's to hoping he can find a way to move forward in a positive manner with his jumper heading into what is hoped to be a promising 2024-25 season!