The Oklahoma City Thunder faced a tough setback on Sunday night in their game against the Golden State Warriors. Their rising star, Chet Holmgren, sustained a right hip injury early in the first quarter and was unable to return. Holmgren, who had quickly established himself as a key player for the Thunder, was attempting to block an Andrew Wiggins layup when he collided mid-air, landing hard on his right side. According to Shams Charania, Holmgren suffered a right iliac hip fracture, and an update to when he will return likely won’t occur for 8-10 weeks. His absence exposes a major weakness of the Thunder.
OKC Star Gets Injured In Loss To Warriors
Chet Holmgren Stats and Performance
Through the first nine games of the 2024-25 season, Holmgren has been great. He was averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game before the Warriors game. He provided the Thunder with a vital presence as a rim protector and versatile scorer.
Chet Holmgren had to be helped off the floor after a hard fall 🙏 pic.twitter.com/5CnkRaSQ4z
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 11, 2024
Aside from the Chet Holmgren stats, his defensive abilities have allowed Oklahoma City’s guards to stay aggressive on the perimeter, knowing they have a reliable shot-blocker behind them. OKC has been on pace for a historic defense in the early goings of this season. On the offensive end, he creates unique floor-spacing as a 7-footer.
Chet Holmgren Injury Adds to OKC Injury List
The Thunder entered the night with an impressive 8-1 record but fell to 8-2 after their loss to the Warriors. The absence of Holmgren added to the Thunder’s current injury issues, as they were already thin in the frontcourt. Their lack of size was on full display in the remainder of the Thunder vs. Warriors game.
Other injuries have depleted their rotation. Big man Isaiah Hartenstein remains sidelined with a hand injury, and Jaylin Williams is working to recover from a hamstring issue. The Thunder expect Hartenstein to return in a few weeks, but in the meantime, they will need to rely on smaller lineups to compensate for the lack of depth in the frontcourt.
Jalen Williams on his reaction to Chet going down + how tough it was to be tuned back into the game. Also discussed his confidence in more small ball if Holmgren misses time.
“It’s not the first time we’ve done it. Looking forward to the challenge of that.” pic.twitter.com/t7sFsCOU03
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) November 11, 2024
How Can OKC Bounce Back?
The Thunder were outrebounded 46-41 in their loss to the Warriors. The Warriors happen to be the smallest team in the league. They lack a single player on their roster who has played and is listed over 6-foot-9. With Holmgren missing time, they could be in for a few tough games.
Following the game, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did not provide any updates on Holmgren’s condition. He indicated that more information would likely be available in the coming days, which has been provided by Charania. The Thunder now face a quick turnaround as they prepare to play the LA Clippers on Monday, a game that will test their adaptability without Holmgren anchoring the middle.
With Holmgren out, the Thunder will need to rely on the rest of their roster. Holmgren’s versatility and defensive impact will be challenging to replace. The Thunder’s depth and teamwork will be tested as they move forward without one of their core players. The upcoming games, starting with the matchup against the Clippers, will provide insight into how this Thunder team can perform amidst adversity after a hot start to the season.
