One of Chet Holmgren’s major pre-draft concerns was his durability and ability to defend the massive centers of the modern NBA. Names like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid were common to bring up when envisioning Holmgren playing the five spot in Oklahoma City.
After a year-long injury during his first season, the durability concerns grew. But last season, his first full season in the NBA, he put to rest any uneasiness early on. Holmgren anchored one of the top defenses in the NBA and led Oklahoma City in blocks. He became a premier post defender in the NBA, even if he did take his lumps against bigger opponents. His aggression and fight always came into play, and he never backed down from anyone.
As the Thunder open up the regular season on Monday night, Holmgren will have the tallest of tasks against Denver’s MVP center in Jokic. It would be a nice game for new acquisition Isaiah Hartenstein to step in and help, but it looks like he’ll miss the Thunder’s first month and a half with a hand injury suffered in the preseason slate. It’ll be Holmgren penciled in to slow down Jokic, but that’s not how the Thunder’s star center thinks about the matchup. Basketball is a team game after all…