Chet Holmgren: The Unicorn Forging a New Path in the NBA

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Chet Holmgren
Chet Holmgren

Standing an imposing 7 feet 1 inch tall yet moving with the grace of a guard, Chet Holmgren (pronounced CHET HOHM-grən) isn’t just a basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder; he’s a phenomenon redefining the modern NBA big man. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this generational talent’s journey reads like a basketball fairy tale, marked by elite accolades, resilience through adversity, and a skill set so rare he’s earned the coveted “unicorn” label.

Roots in Minneapolis and a Hoops Pedigree: Holmgren’s basketball destiny seemed almost preordained. The son of Dave Holmgren, a former 7-foot University of Minnesota college basketball player, Chet inherited more than just height. His foundational years were spent at Minnehaha Academy, a Christian private school in his hometown. Crucially, he formed a dynamic partnership with lifelong friend and current Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs. Even early setbacks, like recovering from a broken right wrist in sixth grade, became opportunities – he honed his shooting range during that time. By ninth grade, he’d sprouted to 6 feet 9 inches, foreshadowing his unique physical evolution.

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School 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 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   ESPN: 5/5 stars   (97)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 1    247Sports: 1    ESPN: 1
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

High School Dominance and National Acclaim: Holmgren’s high school career at Minnehaha was nothing short of legendary. Alongside Suggs, he led the team to four consecutive state championships – two in Class 2A and his senior crown in Class 3A. His stats soared: from 6.2 points as a freshman to averaging 21 points and 12.3 rebounds in his final year. His performances with Amateur Athletic Union team Grassroots Sizzle on the Under Armour Association circuit catapulted him to national prominence. The defining viral moment came in August 2019 at Stephen Curry’s SC30 Select Camp, where the lanky teenager famously crossed over the NBA superstar himself. His senior year culminated in a historic sweep of national honors: Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-American, and Minnesota Mr. Basketball.

Career statistics

 

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field goal percentage  3P% 3-point field goal percentage  FT% Free throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game  APG Assists per game  SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game  PPG Points per game  Bold Career high
 * Led the league

NBA

Regular season

 
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Oklahoma City 82 82* 29.4 .530 .370 .793 7.9 2.4 .6 2.3 16.5
2024–25 Oklahoma City 32 32 27.4 .490 .375 .754 8.0 2.0 .7 2.2 15.0
Career 114 114 28.9 .519 .372 .780 7.9 2.3 .7 2.3 16.1

Playoffs

 
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024 Oklahoma City 10 10 34.5 .496 .260 .758 7.2 2.1 .7 2.5 15.6
Career 10 10 34.5 .496 .260 .758 7.2 2.1 .7 2.5 15.6

College

 
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Gonzaga 32 31 26.9 .607 .390 .717 9.9 1.9 .8 3.7 14.1

Choosing Gonzaga and Collegiate Brilliance: As the consensus five-star recruit and top-ranked player in the 2021 class, Holmgren’s recruiting journey drew intense interest. Ultimately, he followed Suggs to Gonzaga University. His college career, though brief, was spectacular. His debut was a masterclass: 14 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks, and six assists – the first player in 25 years to post such a stat line in a debut. He quickly established himself as a defensive anchor and versatile offensive threat, earning West Coast Conference (WCC) Defensive Player of the Year and WCC Newcomer of the Year honors. His dominance continued into the NCAA tournament, highlighted by a 19-point, 17-rebound, 7-block performance against Georgia State. After averaging 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft.

Thunder Arrival, Adversity, and Immediate Impact: The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Holmgren second overall in the 2022 NBA draft, making him the highest pick ever from Gonzaga and from Minnesota. His 2022 NBA Summer League debut was electric: 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a record-breaking six blocks. However, a Lisfranc injury sustained in a Pro-am game just weeks later forced him to miss the entire 2022–23 NBA season.

Holmgren’s official NBA regular-season debut arrived on October 25, 2023. Any doubts about his readiness vanished quickly. He showcased his elite rim protection by setting a Thunder franchise rookie record with seven blocks in just his second game. His offensive prowess shone through in a career-high 36-point eruption against the Golden State Warriors, joining Michael Jordan in an exclusive rookie stat club. He earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November and was a cornerstone for the Thunder’s playoff push. In his first playoffs, he delivered crucial performances, including 26 points in a dominant Game 2 win over the New Orleans Pelicans – setting unique NBA playoff history for rookies. Though the Thunder fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals, Holmgren’s 21 points in the closeout Game 6 signaled his arrival on the big stage. He earned unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

Resilience and Continued Ascent: The 2024–25 season brought another challenge: a right iliac wing fracture sustained against Golden State on November 10, 2024. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, he returned to action on February 7, 2025, picking up where he left off.

The Unicorn Profile: What makes Chet Holmgren a “unicorn”? It’s the unprecedented blend of size and skill. Listed as a center/power forward, he possesses guard-like ball-handling, shooting range (including superior three-point shooting for his size), and fluid movement. His athleticism is exceptional, featuring vertical and running leaps uncommon for a player his height. Defensively, his 7-foot-6-inch wingspan makes him a terrifying rim protector and rebounder. He seamlessly blends a strong inner and outer game, capable of impacting every facet of play. Representing the United States, he led the team to gold at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia, earning tournament MVP honors – further proof of his elite pedigree.

Chet Holmgren is more than a promising rookie; he’s a transformative talent. Overcoming significant injuries, he’s proven his durability and elite production. With his unique skill set, defensive dominance, and ever-expanding offensive game, Holmgren isn’t just the future of the Oklahoma City Thunder – he’s shaping the future of the NBA big man itself.

References

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