(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder found their missing piece.
Chet Holmgren had to miss his entire rookie season, but he made an immediate impact when he was able to get back on the floor.
People got caught up in the Chet Holmgren-Victor Wembanyama debate, and Wembanyama’s legendary rookie season kind of overshadowed what the Gonzaga product did all year long.
But now that he’s the only of the two stellar rookies in the playoffs, it’s officially his time to shine.
And shine, he has.
As shown by NBA History on Twitter, he’s now just the fourth rookie to log 120+ points, 60+ rebounds, and 20+ blocks in his first eight postseason games, joining the likes of David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, and Tim Duncan.
Chet Holmgren becomes the 4th rookie in NBA history to total 120+ PTS, 60+ REB and 20+ BLK through their first 8 career postseason games, joining:
David Robinson
Alonzo Mourning
Tim Duncan pic.twitter.com/RDFpfkEu3t
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 14, 2024
There’s no need to compare one another, and we could and should enjoy both of them, but Holmgren would’ve run away with Rookie of the Year honors every year but this one.
Also, he could’ve put up bigger numbers as a scorer if he wasn’t his team’s third scoring option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and his impact contributed to winning basketball and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Thunder are the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history, and this team should be very good for years to come.
They still have a flurry of draft picks to keep stacking young talent or adding win-now pieces via trade, and if Holmgren keeps this up, it shouldn’t take long before he’s making All-Star, All-Defensive, and perhaps even All-NBA teams.
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