This OKC Thunder core may already have two established All-Stars leading the charge in the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, but, come February, they should have a third joining their midst.
At least, that's what SGA seems to strongly believe.
Following Thursday's 111-91 win over the Houston Rockets, the reigning MVP couldn't help but praise the big man for his efforts, not just on the night (where he finished with 18 points, nine boards, and four blocks), but throughout his entire tenure in Oklahoma City.
In doing so, he specifically laid out his most straightforward case yet for why he thinks Holmgren "definitely" deserves to be an All-Star.
"Chet is most definitely an All-Star. From the moment he stepped foot on the court with the basketball team, we've been number one in the West. That's no coincidence," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
Chet Holmgren's impact on Thunder goes far beyond the counting stats
It's true -- ever since Holmgren's rookie year in 2022-23, the Thunder have finished no lower than the first seed in the Western Conference standings. On top of this, as a whole, in games where he's played, Oklahoma City finds itself boasting a ridiculous winning percentage of .753.
However, the aim is for him to nab his first All-Star selection this year, which, in a way, makes his past track record somewhat of a moot point.
Yet, even still, Shai's claim of Chet "definitely" being worthy of a trip to the illustrious contest still holds strong.
Through 36 games played, the 23-year-old is posting sensational two-way averages of 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from deep.
With him on the court, this already elite and history-chasing ball club only manages to excel to even greater heights, as they rank in the 90 percentile in defensive effective field goal percentage (51.6), the 96 percentile in point differential (+15.0), and the 98 percentile in opponent points per 100 possessions (103.8).
Holmgren's electrifying two-way abilities don't just impact the Thunder but also rival players, with even four-time All-Star and NBA Champion Draymond Green admitting that the big man's stellar game has only motivated him to try and get better.
At this point, it's undeniable that the 7-footer has proven himself to be more than worthy of earning his first nod.
With the voting process now in the rearview, fans should know rather soon whether or not his efforts have earned him a spot in a starting fashion for the mid-season exhibition. At the very least, he deserves to get in by way of the coach's vote.
Regardless of how he makes it, both SGA and the Thunder franchise's faithful followers should expect to see the rising stud officially become a legitimate star in 2026.