The Oklahoma City Thunder seemingly hit the lottery by selecting Chet Holmgren with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Although Holmgren missed the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to injury, he returned to play his rookie year in the 2023-24 season.
The young stud is having a sensational season and is one of the favorites to take home the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
A perfect example of it was Holmgren’s sensational performance against the Denver Nuggets,
Holmgren became the first rookie since none other than Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning to record at least nine blocks in a single game, as per StatMuse on Twitter.
Chet tonight:
17 PTS
11 REB
9 BLK (!!!)1st rookie to reach those numbers in a game since Alonzo Mourning in 1993. https://t.co/E9vJUiTFHM
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 17, 2023
Chet Holmgren certainly brought his A-game to the table against the Denver Nuggets.
Apart from swatting away nine shots, Holmgren also recorded 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist in 32 minutes of playing time.
Thanks to Holmgren’s incredible performance, the Thunder registered a close 118-117 victory over the Nuggets.
For the season, Holmgren is averaging a solid 16.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game for the Thunder.
It’s no surprise that the Thunder are currently the second seed in the Western Conference with a 16-8 record.
While the young core of the Oklahoma City Thunder is playing at an elite level, whether they can maintain this form or not is the bigger question.
As of now, the Thunder are one of the favorites to not only clinch a top-two seed in the Western Conference but also play in the 2024 NBA Finals.
Can Holmgren and Thunder maintain this form? Only time will tell.
NEXT:
Stat Highlights Chet Holmgren’s Instant Impact On The Thunder