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Chet Holmgren

Holmgren with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2023
No. 7 – Oklahoma City Thunder
Position	Center / power forward
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(2002-05-01) May 1, 2002 (age 22) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school	Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
College	Gonzaga (2021–2022)
NBA draft	2022: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Playing career	2022–present
Career history
2022–present	Oklahoma City Thunder
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2024) Consensus second-team All-American (2022) WCC Defensive Player of the Year (2022) WCC Newcomer of the Year (2022) First-team All-WCC (2022) WCC All-Freshman Team (2022) National high school player of the year (2021) McDonald's All-American (2021) Jordan Brand Classic (2021) Nike Hoop Summit (2021) Minnesota Mr. Basketball (2021) FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP (2021)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States FIBA Under-19 World Cup 2021 Latvia Team

Chet Thomas Holmgren (/ˈtʃɛt ˈhoʊmɡrən/ CHET HOHM-grən; born May 1, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Drafted second overall in the 2022 NBA draft, he played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. A consensus five-star recruit and the number-one player in the 2021 class, he stands 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) and plays the center and power forward positions.

Early life and career

Holmgren was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up playing basketball under the tutelage of his father, Dave Holmgren, who stands 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) tall and who played college basketball for the University of Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. In sixth grade, Holmgren began attending Minnehaha Academy, a Christian private school in Minneapolis. He stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) at the time and was teammates with current Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, whom he would play alongside through high school. Holmgren improved his shooting range while recovering from a broken right wrist during his first season. By ninth grade, Holmgren had grown to 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m).

High school career

As a freshman at Minnehaha Academy, Holmgren averaged 6.2 points and three rebounds per game. His team won its second straight Class 2A state championship. In his sophomore season, Holmgren averaged 18.6 points and 11 rebounds per game and led his team to another Class 2A state title. After the season, he had success with his Amateur Athletic Union team Grassroots Sizzle at the Under Armour Association, earning tournament most valuable player honors. As a result, he emerged as one of the highest ranked players in the 2021 class and started receiving more NCAA Division I interest. In August 2019, Holmgren attracted national attention for crossing over NBA superstar Stephen Curry at Curry's own SC30 Select Camp.

On January 4, 2020, as a junior, Holmgren recorded nine points, 10 rebounds, and 12 blocks in a nationally televised victory over Sierra Canyon School, a nationally ranked team featuring Bronny James, Brandon Boston Jr., and Ziaire Williams. In his junior season, he averaged 14.3 points per game, leading Minnehaha to a 25–3 record.

As a senior, averaging 21 points and 12.3 rebounds, Holmgren won the Class 3A state title, his fourth state championship at Minnehaha. He was named Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American, and Minnesota Mr. Basketball.

Recruiting

Entering his junior season, Holmgren had about 30 scholarship offers from college basketball programs. In June 2020, after the reclassification of Jonathan Kuminga, he became the number one player in the 2021 class, according to ESPN. On April 19, 2021, Holmgren announced his commitment and signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Gonzaga, following his former high school teammate Jalen Suggs.

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Chet Holmgren C	Minneapolis, MN	Minnehaha Academy (MN)	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Apr 19, 2021
	Star ratings: Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 97
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 1  247Sports: 1  ESPN: 1
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Gonzaga 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021. "2021 Gonzaga Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

College career

In his college debut, Holmgren tallied 14 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks, and six assists in a 97–63 victory over Dixie State. He became the first player in 25 years to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks in his debut. On November 22, the seven-foot freshman finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 3 for 3 at the free-throw line. At the conclusion of the regular season, Holmgren was named West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. At the NCAA tournament, Holmgren recorded 19 points, 17 rebounds, seven blocks and five assists in their 93–72 opening-round victory over Georgia State. As a freshman, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game.

On April 21, 2022, Holmgren declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

Professional career

Oklahoma City Thunder (2022–present)

Holmgren was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, making him the highest-selected draft pick ever taken out of Gonzaga and the highest-drafted pick from the state of Minnesota, topping Kevin McHale, who was taken third overall in 1980. Holmgren joined the Thunder's 2022 NBA Summer League roster. In his Summer League debut, Holmgren scored 23 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and six blocks in a 98–77 win against the Utah Jazz. He also broke the record for the most blocks in a single Summer League game. On July 5, 2022, Holmgren signed a rookie-scale contract with the Thunder. However, on August 25, it was announced that he would miss the entire 2022–23 NBA season due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot that occurred during a Pro-am game.

On October 25, 2023, Holmgren made his NBA regular-season debut, putting up 11 points and four rebounds in a 124–104 win over the Chicago Bulls. On October 27, Holmgren put up 16 points, 13 rebounds, and seven blocks in a 108–105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, breaking the franchise record for most blocks in a single game by a rookie. On November 18, Holmgren put up a career-high 36 points along with 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks, and two three-pointers in a 130–123 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors. He also joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies in NBA history to put up at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block, and two three-pointers made in a game. On December 4, Holmgren was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October/November. On April 25, Holmgren led the Thunder to a 124–92 Game 2 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, with 26 points and seven rebounds. He became the first rookie in NBA playoff history to score 25 or more points and put up a +25 plus/minus ratio in a game, and was the first rookie in Thunder franchise history to score at least 25 points and grab five rebounds in the playoffs.

On November 10, 2024, in a game against the Golden State Warriors, Holmgren took a hard fall on his right side after challenging an Andrew Wiggins drive. He was subsequently diagnosed with a right iliac wing fracture and ruled out for 8–10 weeks.

National team career

Holmgren represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, leading his team to a gold medal, and earned tournament MVP honors.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Player profile

Listed as a center, many observers note that the lanky Holmgren is a versatile player who moves, handles, shoots, and jumps fluidly and deftly, more like a guard than a big man. His vertical and running leaps are much stronger than average for a center or power forward, and his 7-foot-6-inch (2.29 m) wingspan contributes to his standout blocking and rebounding abilities. Holmgren plays a strong inner and outer game, with superior three-point shooting compared to others of his size and position.

Personal life

Holmgren's father, Dave, played 57 games of college basketball for Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. Holmgren has two sisters.

References

1. 7-Foot High Schooler Chet Holmgren Could Be Basketball's Next Unicorn. Bleacher Report. May 19, 2019. Event occurs at 6:52. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
2. "2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide" (Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
3. Bennett, Brian (April 19, 2021). "Coveted recruit Chet Holmgren is headed to Gonzaga, but should we really be surprised?". The Athletic. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
4. ^ Borzello, Jeff and Biancardi, Paul (April 19, 2021). "Chet Holmgren, No. 1 HS recruit in Class of 2021, commits to Gonzaga". ESPN. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
5. ^ Jones, Ryan (November 28, 2019). "Big Stepper: Chet Holmgren's Game Keeps Growing". Slam. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
6. ^ Gardner, David (December 4, 2019). "Once 'A Pile of Bricks,' Chet Holmgren Is Now Basketball's Dream House". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
7. Paulsen, Jim (March 24, 2018). "Minnehaha Academy, driven by larger purpose, defends 2A title with victory over Caledonia". MN Basketball Hub. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
8. Johnson, Dalton (August 7, 2019). "Watch Steph Curry get crossed by 7-foot high school star Chet Holmgren". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
9. Frederick, Jace (January 4, 2020). "Minnehaha Academy wins high-profile basketball showdown with nationally ranked Sierra Canyon". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
10. ^ Polacheck, Jacob (June 12, 2020). "Minnehaha Academy's Chet Holmgren is No. 1 in Class of 2021 rankings". Zagsblog. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
11. Frederick, Jace (April 10, 2021). "State boys basketball: Chet Holmgren goes out in style as Minnehaha Academy cruises to Class 3A crown". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
12. "Chet Holmgren and Raven Johnson Win 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Trophy for Player of the Year". naismithtrophy.com. March 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
13. "Azzi Fudd, Chet Holmgren named 2021 Morgan Wootten Players of the Year". The Athletic. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
14. Bates, Greg (January 23, 2020). "Minnehaha Academy 7-footer Chet Holmgren might be the most unique prospect in high school basketball". MaxPreps. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
15. "Nation's No. 1 Recruit Signs with Gonzaga" (Press release). Gonzaga Bulldogs. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
16. Meehan, Jim (November 9, 2021). "Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren impressive in debut, leads Gonzaga past Dixie State 97-63". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
17. "Timme Tabbed WCC Player Of The Year" (Press release). West Coast Conference. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
18. Kasabian, Paul (March 17, 2022). "Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Fend off Georgia State's Upset Bid in March Madness Round 1". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
19. Wojnarowski, Adrian (April 21, 2022). "Gonzaga center Holmgren entering NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
20. Mussatto, Joe (June 23, 2022). "NBA Draft 2022: OKC Thunder selects Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren with No. 2 overall pick". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
21. "Chet Holmgren, taken second overall, is highest drafted Minnesotan in NBA history". Star Tribune. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
22. "Oklahoma City Thunder 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster | NBA.com". nba.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
23. Salao, Renzo (July 5, 2022). "Chet Holmgren fires warning shot after breaking NBA Summer League record". ClutchPoints. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
24. "Thunder Signs First-Round Draft Picks, Chet Holmgren Ousmane Dieng and Jalen Williams". nba.com. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
25. "Holmgren to miss '22-23 season with foot injury". ESPN.com. Contributed by Bobby Marks and The Associated Press. August 25, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
26. Pagaduan, Jedd (October 25, 2023). "Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren's honest feelings on NBA debut after redshirt season". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
27. Pagaduan, Jedd (October 27, 2023). "Thunder center Chet Holmgren's insane stat line vs. Cavs sparks Rookie of the Year buzz". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
28. Guinhawa, Angelo (November 18, 2023). "Chet Holmgren's Thunder heroics vs. Stephen Curry, Warriors fuels ROY buzz". ClutchPoints. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
29. "Chet Holmgren Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month". NBA.com. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
30. "Chet Holmgren makes NBA Playoff history". Gonzaga Nation. April 25, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
31. "Thunder's Chet Holmgren suffers pelvic fracture on hard fall". espn.com. November 11, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
32. "Chet Holmgren takes home TISSOT MVP award after helping USA to U19 World Cup title". FIBA. July 11, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
33. Jordan, Jason (March 25, 2020). "A Look at Elite Center Chet Holmgren". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
34. Grobeck, Joe (March 11, 2020). "America's No. 2 Recruit Shoots Like Dirk and Defends Like Davis". FanBuzz. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
35. "Q&A: Chet Holmgren's parents, HS coach on Chet's journey to being top-3 NBA Draft pick". KSTP-TV. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.

External links

• Career statistics from NBA.com  and Basketball Reference 
• Gonzaga Bulldogs bio
• USA Basketball bio

• 2002 births
• Living people
• All-American college men's basketball players
• American men's basketball players
• Basketball players from Minneapolis
• Centers (basketball)
• Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball players
• McDonald's High School All-Americans
• Oklahoma City Thunder draft picks
• Oklahoma City Thunder players
• Power forwards
• 21st-century American sportsmen