Chet

Holmgren

Holmgren picked the worst possible time to have one of his worst games of the season. Due to injuries, the Thunder needed more production from the 7-foot-1 forward/center, and he was unable to answer the call. Holmgren attempted just two shots from the field, an inexcusable number given his talent and what was on the line. However, for as disappointing as his Game 7 performance was, Holmgren will remain a highly regarded player in fantasy basketball. He finished this regular season as a second-round player, and that should be the case in 2026-27.

Named third-team All-NBA on Sunday, Holmgren produced another underwhelming showing in Game 4. If there’s a positive, it’s that his nine rebounds were two more than the 7-foot-1 forward/center’s total in Games 3 and 4. However, with San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama’s consistent excellence, the Thunder need more from Holmgren if they’re to win this series, especially if Jalen Williams (hamstring) remains out after missing both games in San Antonio.

All five third-team selections were named All-NBA for the first time in their respective careers on Sunday. Duren’s selection may be the most impactful, as he’ll hit restricted free agency next month. The All-NBA selection makes him eligible for a max deal worth up to $287 million over five years. However, given his struggles during the postseason and the Pistons’ need to also address Ausar Thompson’s future, Duren may not strike it that rich this summer. Especially with other teams unable to offer a deal on par with what the Pistons can.

Holmgren’s final stat line on Monday rivaled Game 3’s. Again, he took advantage of his opportunities inside on the offensive end, including a key dunk down the stretch to give OKC the lead for the final time. Holmgren also nearly did enough on the glass to come away with a double-double. The former second-overall pick failed to block a shot for the first time, but his presence was certainly felt. He finishes the series having averaged 20.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.

Holmgren was one of seven Thunder players, five being starters, to finish the 131-108 victory in double figures. While he could not extend his streak of games with at least 20 points to four, the Thunder forward/center was once again impactful on both ends of the floor. Isaiah Hartenstein also played well, contributing 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal. With Saturday’s victory, the Thunder became the first defending champion since Cleveland in 2017 to start the following postseason with seven consecutive victories.

As he’s done so many times throughout his career, the former second-overall pick had a massive two-way impact in the Thunder’s victory. Offensively, he shot the three-pointer very well, and then punished the Lakers in the interior and on the offensive glass. With a solid number of points at the charity stripe, as well, Holmgren ultimately tied with a team-high in points. He was arguably even more impressive on the defensive end, where his six stocks led all players in Thursday’s contest. Holmgren is averaging 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.5 steals per game so far in this series, and has a chance to put together another strong outing in Game 3.

Holgren was OKC’s standout performer on both ends of the floor in Game 1. Offensively, he shot the ball well overall and drained both of his three-point attempts, while doing a decent job on the offensive glass. Additionally, he led all players in blocks for the game and added a steal to further highlight his defensive dominance on Tuesday. Holmgren provided plenty of issues for Los Angeles and will have a chance to do so again in Game 2 on Thursday.

Holmgren was excellent in Game 4 with 24 points, 12 rebounds, two three-pointers and two steals. The 23-year-old center was +21 in 34 minutes as the Thunder took Game 4 by nine points. OKC won every game in the series by at least nine points. The Thunder are on the fast track to repeating as champions with a first round sweep of the Suns.

Jalen Williams’ absence due to a strained hamstring did not result in more shot attempts for Holmgren in Game 3. In fact, his attempts were cut in half compared to Game 2 on Wednesday. The good news is that the 7-foot-1 forward/center provided three defensive contributions and seven rebounds in 29 minutes on the floor. The Thunder may not need much offense from Holmgren to close out the Suns, but the competition will get stronger as the team advances.

Holmgren anchored the middle defensively for the Thunder in a major way on Wednesday. The former second-overall pick repeatedly erased shots at the rim to account for two-thirds of his team’s total blocked shots, and had success at cleaning up the defensive glass. He scored in spurts on the offensive end to finish as one of OKC’s top scorers, with the three-point shot being a major factor. As he’s been effective on both ends of the floor, Holmgren is off to a strong start to begin the series. He’ll look to keep rolling in Game 3.