Chet Holmgren

 

Chet Thomas Holmgren (born May 1, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) and weighing 195 pounds (88 kg), Holmgren plays center and power forward. He played one season of college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and was selected second overall by the Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft. After missing the entire 2022-23 season with a Lisfranc injury, Holmgren returned to earn NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2024. He won an NBA championship with the Thunder in 2025 and was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2026.

 

Early Life 

 

Holmgren was born on May 1, 2002, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, Dave Holmgren, stands 7 feet tall and played college basketball for the University of Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. 

 

High School Career

 

Holmgren attended Minnehaha Academy, where he led the team to three consecutive Class 2A state championships. As a freshman, he averaged 6.2 points and three rebounds. In his sophomore season, he averaged 18.6 points and 11 rebounds, earning AAU tournament MVP honors with Grassroots Sizzle.

 

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, featuring Bronny James, Brandon Boston Jr., and Ziaire Williams. In August 2019, he gained national attention for crossing over Stephen Curry at Curry’s SC30 Select Camp. Holmgren was rated as a consensus five-star recruit and the top-ranked player in the 2021 class.

 

College Career

 

At Gonzaga in 2021-22, Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and a nation-leading 3.7 blocks per game, earning Second-Team All-American honors. He declared for the NBA Draft following his freshman season.

 

NBA Career

 

Draft and Injury (2022-2023)

 

Holmgren was selected second overall by Oklahoma City on June 23, 2022, becoming the highest draft pick in Gonzaga history and the highest-drafted player from Minnesota, surpassing Kevin McHale (third overall, 1980). In his Summer League debut, he scored 23 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and six blocks, breaking the Summer League record for blocks in a single game.

 

On August 20, 2022, while defending LeBron James during a pro-am game in Seattle, Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot. He missed the entire 2022-23 season.

 

Rookie Season and Championship (2023-2025)

 

Holmgren made his NBA debut on October 25, 2023, scoring 11 points with four rebounds in a win over Chicago. On April 25, 2024, he became the first rookie in NBA playoff history to score 25+ points with a +25 plus-minus ratio, recording 26 points and seven rebounds in a Game 2 victory over New Orleans.

 

On November 10, 2024, Holmgren suffered a right iliac wing fracture in his pelvis after challenging an Andrew Wiggins drive. He returned on February 7, 2025, after missing three months. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 32 starts.

 

The Thunder won the 2025 NBA championship, defeating the Indiana Pacers in seven games. On July 9, 2025, Holmgren signed a five-year, $250 million maximum extension.

 

Current Season (2025-26)

 

On October 26, 2025, Holmgren scored 31 points on six three-pointers with 12 rebounds against Atlanta. He later topped that with a 35-point outburst. On February 1, 2026, he was named to his first All-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve.

 

International Career

 

Holmgren represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks while leading Team USA to a gold medal and earning tournament MVP honors.

 

References

 

External Links

* Chet Holmgren on NBA.com

* Chet Holmgren on Basketball-Reference.com