The Oklahoma City Thunder power forward has gotten off to a great start in his NBA career
Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama aim to fight for the rookie of the year trophy
The ‘unicorn’ phenomenon He is known in the NBA as those tall players capable of moving and controlling the ball with the skill of a point guard. Wembanyama is, right now, the greatest exponent of this term in the league, but there is another player who will seek to challenge the Frenchman this season with another ‘supernatural’ physique…Chet Holmgren.
The Oklahoma City Thunder interior has started the season posting great scoring records and leaving magnificent sensations, a boy who was selected in the 2022 draft as the great future promise of the next few years and that injuries prevented us from enjoying the start. The ‘Hype’ has only just begun
AN UNUSUAL ‘ROOKIE’ YEAR
As happened with Ben Simmons and Philadelphia in 2016Holmgren could not play his ‘rookie’ season 22-23 due to an injury that sidelined him completely, a hard blow for the Thunder franchise that drafted him in an entire pick 2 of the draft. Now, the former Gonzaga player has started his career in the league in the best way.
In the three games he has played this season, The 2’16 cm ‘giant’ averages 15.3 points per game, 7 rebounds and almost 2 assists. Not bad to start a campaign in which Oklahoma aspires to get into the playoff positions, with a team full of young and exciting talent. Will Holmgren be the ‘X’ factor?
Beyond his offensive talent, with a wide range of possibilities on the court, Chet is also becoming the team’s lock on defense. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the power forward reaped 7 blocks, all-time high for a ‘rookie’ in franchise history. Together with Lu Dort, both players can form a fearsome defensive duo for any rival attacking scheme. Of course, he is forced to gain muscle mass if he wants to face the biggest in his position.: “He will be very good, but I think he needs to put on a little weight” Nikola Jokic joked after facing Chet….Word of MVP.
FIGHT WITH ‘WEMBY’ FOR THE PRIZE
The Wembanyama phenomenon has burst into the NBA with force, a player destined to mark an era in basketball, but the Frenchman could find Holmgren an obstacle in his race for Rookie of the Year. The context of Chet is more favorable than that of ‘Wemby’.
Oklahoma, despite not entering the playoff, the course passesdo, will seek to assault the top of the Western Conference this yearwith a core of players more than prepared to do so: Shai is the big star and lighthouse of the team, accompanied by other ‘pearls’ such as Giddey, Dort, the Williams… and the aforementioned Holmgren. If the interior manages to post good statistics and remains healthyhas more than enough capacity to snatch the award as best rookie in the NBA.
Wembanyama starts as the big favorite to win the Rookie of the Year
| AFP
In a more well-made Thunder and without carrying the dominant weight of the teamor, Chet can stand out above Victor Wembanyama, a man who will have to manage to get San Antonio ahead, a painting that aims to be one of the worst this course in the ‘wild’ West. Individual numbers prevail, but the NBA also values team balance very positively when distributing its awards.
The profile of both on the court is very similar. Arms and legs that have miles and a mastery of taming the ball that is rarely seen in the league. The one from Spurs is more offensive in nature, but Chet has nothing to envy in dribbling, transition or shot creation situations.
SUPERNATURAL TALENT
The pre-Draft reports from some experts on Holmgren in 2022 already warned about what could be coming: “The best defender of the generation. He makes the difference with his excellent rim protection and instincts in the paint. For a seven-footer, it will be his shot, ball handling and hand talent that will define the ceiling of this prodigy”
Holmgren’s basketball skills are innate. In the little sample that he has offered us at the highest level, Chet is already leaving glimpses of his progress in the offensive field, where he can develop huntil becoming a lethal weapon in today’s NBA.
On November 15, the two NBA ‘unicorns’ will meet for the first time in an official match.