The Oklahoma City Thunder have been dealt a major blow to the team’s blueprint after a significant injury suffered by Chet Holmgren.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were set to be one of the most interesting young teams heading into the upcoming season. Even though that will still be true to a certain extent, a significant injury to Chet Holmgren has thrown a huge wet towel on their momentum heading into the 2022-23 NBA season.
Holmgren reportedly suffered a Lisfranc injury in his right foot and will miss the entirety of his rookie season with the Thunder. A few recent players that suffered a similar type of injury are Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Blake Griffin.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping Chet Holmgren has a full recovery
If it’s any consolation, each of those players managed to bounce back from that injury and still be really good players.
Despite that, this is super disappointing considering how good Holmgren looked during his stint in the NBA Summer League. He was going to make an immediate impact for the Thunder and looked like a player that could develop into a star. All that is now on hold after suffering this freak injury during a Pro-Am game.
As unfair as it may seem, these are the concerns that many were afraid of when Holmgren entered the 2022 NBA Draft. Because of his thin frame for a 7-footer, you are always concerned about possible foot injuries. And when/if they occur, they’re always more difficult to recover from.
But because of his young age, the hope – and expectation – is that Holmgren will be able to make a full recovery. Holmgren has a bright future and has one of the highest ceilings in the league. His skill set for a 7-footer is unlike what we’ve seen from young players in recent years.
This is not only a bummer and unfortunate for the Thunder but also for basketball fans everywhere. Holmgren is going to be an interesting professional and was the next evolution of the modern unicorn. It’s a shame we’ll have to wait for another year to see him start his career in the NBA.
The future is still bright for Holmgren and the Thunder. I don’t believe this injury changes that just yet. Though, it is truly unfortunate.