Chet Holmgren’s long-awaited NBA regular season debut is finally underway. The second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft missed his first year due to a foot injury sustained in professional basketball. Holmgren had a great preseason and Thunder fans will be happy to know that he seems ready to be a big part of the team.
In his debut against the Chicago Bulls, Holmgren was matched up against two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic. The long, skinny Thunder center used a spectacular swing to get his first two points in the NBA:
Holmgren’s three-point shooting ability forced Vucevic out of bounds. The rookie’s threat overtook him and put Vucevic at a disadvantage. One fake, one dribble, one great shake, and Holmgren was done with a smooth uncontested jumper.
Holmgren’s defense was already excellent, and in his debut, his impact on the defensive end was immediately apparent. He posed a threat to defenses in the preseason, and his presence alone was enough to make opponents think twice about laying up in the lane.
In his one season at Holmgren, he was one of the best defensive players and rebound protectors in the country. He was named the 2022 WCC Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the WCC Best Eleven First Team. His defense proved to live up to the hype.
Holmgren doesn’t just rely on his size and height to overpower opponents. The rookie’s great timing also made him a scoring nightmare. The fantasy cradle is a smooth move that fans rave about, but Holmgren’s defense may be what the Thunder need most heading into the playoffs.