Winning the West again should come down to OKC’s Chet Holmgren and continuing to let the big man flourish alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But who should the Thunder view as the most important piece for lasting playoff success? IS it SGA? Or Holmgren? Here’s why Chet should be considered their most important player.
Ruling the West: OKC’s Chet Holmgren Should Be the Team’s Focal Point this Season
Chet Holmgren Is Key To Success
OKC’s Chet Holmgren is drawing ever closer to embarking on his follow-up season to last year’s rather impressive and impactful rookie season. Holmgren suffered a significant lower-body injury that knocked him out of what would have been his rookie season in 2022-23. Instead, the 7-1 big man debuted last season and immediately impacted the Thunder’s impressive season.
The Thunder took a giant leap in the standings and league-wide perception, competitiveness, and winning. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time All-Pro, and two-time All-Star, made waves across the NBA world last season. His name was mixed in the MVP conversation all year. The best thing about the Thunder, though, is their youth. They are young and extremely talented, second youngest behind the San Antonio Spurs, not to mention one of the fastest-paced NBA teams.
Oklahoma City is undoubtedly on the rise and rising at breakneck speed. This begs the question: Are they set to take over the Western Conference, climbing over the likes of the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves? They already finished last season as the No. 1 seed, so they’ve shown they can compete with anyone. However, can they distance themselves from the rest?
Chet Holmgren, Not Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Heresy! Maybe. Without question or pause, SGA is the Thunder’s best player—no argument. He’s their superstar, eventual league MVP, and team leader. I would venture to say that Chet Holmgren, though, is OKC’s most crucial player in the team’s overall success. On the defensive side alone, the Thunder made great improvements once Holmgren joined the team. The big man averaged over two blocks per game last season. His height, length, and wingspan are daunting for a smaller driver to the basket. Despite Holmgren’s lack of size compared to other centers in the league, who weigh more and have more body and strength, Holmgren stands tall and doesn’t back down.
Holmgren is still in the development phase as a young player. Yet, the Thunder’s chances of long-term success may ride on his back as opposed to SGA’s. Without Holmgren, there is no defense against Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Davis, among others. Gilgeous-Alexander will wow and entertain the masses on the offensive side of the court. But Chet is the one who will keep the Thunder grounded on the other end. He is the foundation that the Thunder need to reclaim the West’s top seed. Hopefully, that makes for a deep playoff run.
Holmgren’s Prefect Fit Within a Small Lineup
OKC has a plethora of guards and ball handlers, which could be the perfect situation for Chet Holmgren to really explode on offense this year. Playing with so many guards gives Holmgren room to shoot more threes and shoot them more often. The Thunder are already a steady threat from the outside. Free agent addition Isaiah Hartenstein, lurking in the paint and snatching up rebounds in the way that he does, is also a welcome addition. With him on the court, Holmgren should have more freedom to wander outside the paint and look for his shot at a higher volume.
OKC Can Rule the West
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in every position to gun for MVP this season, and he has a high chance of winning if he plays like he did last year. OKC’s lineup is versatile and interchangeable, with players who can create shots and shoot threes at a high clip. ESPN’s NBA Today panelist Tim Leglar spoke about the Thunder’s possible success this season and believes that they have a good chance of retaking the top seed. He even chose the Thunder to win the NBA Cup mid-season.
Chet Holmgren is in a great position to take a huge step this season in becoming the Thunder’s most important piece for playoff success, as he has youth on his side.
