If the Oklahoma City Thunder go deep in the 2025 NBA playoffs, Chet Holmgren will be a vital piece. The 23-year-old aced through one round of tests as he was one of the first-seed’s best players in a Round 1 sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Holmgren averaged 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. He shot 42.3% from 3 on 6.5 attempts. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled with consistency, Holmgren and Jalen Williams stepped up to win the first-round series.
After a Round 2 exit last year, Gilgoeus-Alexander spent the Thunder’s historic 68-14 campaign prepping up his teammates for this year’s playoff run. That’s especially important considering everybody besides the MVP candidate faded into the background against the Dallas Mavericks.
Fast-forward a year later, Gilgeous-Alexander noticed the leap Holmgren has taken. While the seven-footer missed most of the season with a hip fracture, that hasn’t slowed him down from being a dominant presence in the playoffs.
“He’s a world of a better player. Smarter, more physical. The game is slowing down for him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Everything I expected out of Chet. The talent alone has always been there but the work ethic is what makes him who he is.”
The Thunder will need Holmgren to carry his momentum to their Round 2 series against the Denver Nuggets or the LA Clippers. Both bring their frontcourt challenges between Nikola Jokic and Ivica Zubac. If Gilgeous-Alexander returns to his MVP form and Holmgren continues to play like he did in Round 1, the Thunder will be difficult to beat four out of seven times.
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