OKC Thunder big man Chet Holmgren is in the middle of another big season, but there is one way he can take a step forward.
The big man is blocking shots at a career-low rate as of this story's publication. He can both establish himself as an especially respected rim-protector while helping the Thunder become even more dangerous by blocking more shots.
In a lot of ways, Holmgren is enjoying a breakout season, as the 23-year-old is averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.
On top of this, he's making a big impact on the boards, bringing in 8.0 rebounds per contest.
Frankly, it would not be surprising to see him earn his first All-Star selection during the 2025-26 campaign.
While Holmgren is still regarded as a quality defender, his 1.5 blocks per game represents a career-low mark.
Thunder would benefit from more Chet Holmgren blocks
For his career, Holmgren has averaged 2.2 blocks per game. He was consistent in his first two seasons, blocking 2.3 shots per contest as a rookie and 2.2 per game a season ago.
The Thunder's defense hasn't been overly impacted by Holmgren's decrease in blocks. They still feature the best defensive rating in the NBA.
However, much of their defensive prowess stems from the perimeter.
Sure, Oklahoma City is more than capable of protecting the paint, but the Thunder are not dominant when it comes to protecting the basket. Holmgren's 1.5 blocks per outing is currently the best mark on the team, as nobody else who has played in 15 or more games on the team has averaged more than a block per outing.
With that being said, Oklahoma City still ranks ninth overall in the NBA with 5.3 blocks per outing. Most teams would love to be in the top 10 in any defensive category.
When you lead the entire league in defensive rating, limiting opposing second chance points, and limiting opposing points in the paint, though, it becomes easy to expect better overall results.
The Thunder will still be a championship contender if Holmgren continues to average around a block and a half per contest. If he can find his two blocks per outing form once again, however, then the Thunder can become even more dangerous -- which is a frightening thought for opponents since OKC already holds a 23-1 record this season.