Jul 9, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) talks to guard Josh Giddey (3) during an NBA Summer League game against the Houston Rockets at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Chet Holmgren is currently playing in his first NBA Summer League and has a whole season of professional basketball ahead of him. WNBA star Brittney Griner doesn’t have much hope of playing basketball anytime soon as she stands trial in Russia over cannabis-related charges.

While Griner’s situation plays out in a Russian courtroom and geopolitical backrooms, the NBA rookie was asked his thoughts on the WNBA star’s predicament, sharing his sense of “helplessness” on what to do.

“I definitely think that Brittney Griner should be home right now,” Holmgren told People. “I’ve been following, seeing the situation evolve. It’s a terrible situation, it’s just a terrible situation all around.

“There’s a sense of helplessness on my end. And I’m sure that many other people are feeling that too right now.”

Per People, Holmgren says he has been among the many NBA and WNBA players to use their social media platforms to keep pressure on the U.S. government as they attempt to get Griner back home. (That said, The Comeback checked Chet’s Twitterfeed and Instagram accounts but didn’t see any posts related to Griner).

Ultimately, the NBA rookie hopes people remember that Griner is a person just like anyone else and deserves to be treated justly.

“Beyond just the WNBA, she’s a person,” Holmgren continues. “And for her to just…whether she played basketball or not, for her to just be left over there and nobody do anything would be pretty wrong.”

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.