Chet Holmgren broke onto the scene in a major way during his "rookie" campaign with the OKC Thunder last year.
After enduring an injury-induced redshirt season as a result of a devastating foot ailment, the former second-overall selection proved to be well worth the hype surrounding him following a sensational one-and-done stint at Gonzaga.
Starting all 82 games in 2023-24, Holmgren served as the primary pivot for this top-seeded Thunder squad and established himself as an absolute force on both ends of the floor.
Logging 29.4 minutes a night, the big man posted impressive averages of 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 53.0 percent from the floor en route to an All-Rookie First-Team nod and a second-place finish in the Rookie of the Year race.
Following such a promising debut showing, many are looking to see Holmgren continue to progress and improve upon his already illustrious game and, throughout the offseason, the rising star frequently was seen working on his craft in viral workout clips, thus further strenghting confidence among the fanbase in his ability and desire to get better.
However, during Monday's Media Day, the 22-year-old provided intel on one particular area in his repertoire that he looked to work on throughout the summer, and, interestingly enough, it's a skill set that already proved to be a major strength for him on the court last year.
Thunder big Chet Holmgren reveals he worked on his shot in offseason
Asked during a sit-down on Media Day what area of his game he specifically looked to improve during his summer training, Holmgren surprisingly revealed that he made it a point of emphasis to work on his shooting stroke.
"I definitely had to work on my shot. I shot 37 percent last year on four-something attempts which a lot of people might look at and be like, if you can get to that at any point in your career that would be really good. For me, I feel like in order to expand the variety of shots that I can take and be effective with and help our team with I have to improve my shot and make some tweaks. I'm continuing to work on my shot and I think I always will," Holmgren said.
As correctly noted by Holmgren, his 37.0 percent clip on 4.3 attempts per game last season was certainly an enviable mark for many players in the association, especially for those who measure in at 7-feet tall or above.
Frankly, his shooting skills were so impressive, that he became the first player in league history to knock down 129 shots from distance while simultaneously racking up 200 assists and 190 blocks in a single season.
However, to him, he believes that players who are content with their shooting abilities, regardless of how successful of a rate they convert at, are "limiting your ceiling of what it could be," noting that "wherever you're at is where you'll be stuck."