Once the Orlando Magic selected Paolo Banchero first overall, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a choice. Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren or Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr.?
Oklahoma City made Holmgren the second overall pick in the NBA Draft.
Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. 🏀 pic.twitter.com/jVkarXXir2
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 24, 2022
One of Holmgren’s new teammates, Josh Giddey, was excited about the move.
LETS GOOOOOOOOOO
— josh giddey (@joshgiddey) June 24, 2022
Others in the NBA world had a lot to say about it, as well.
Chet Holmgren is nearly a foot taller than me but I outweigh him by about 50 pounds of American beef. I don’t know what to do with this information, but there it is.
— Joe Healey (@JoeHealey42) June 24, 2022
Oklahoma City Thunder drafts Chet Holmgren at #2.
The best prospect in the draft joins SGA and Josh Giddey.
What a start to a rebuild.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 24, 2022
Chet Holmgren will be the third NBA player who is 7 feet and sub-200 pounds
One of the other 3 is already on the Oklahoma City Thunder
POKU AND CHET
THE TWIN TWIGS pic.twitter.com/rX9GmVDnqu— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) June 24, 2022
Chet Holmgren is now the highest drafted player in Gonzaga history.
When you put his defense & offense together, his season really starts to stand out: Holmgren is 1 of 3 D-I players over the past 25 seasons with 40 3s and 100 blocks in a season (K.J. McDaniels, Eddie Griffin). pic.twitter.com/xvlZMf4Eku
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 24, 2022
The obvious concern for Holmgren is his body. He’s a seven-footer but weighs only 195 pounds. So, he’ll have to get into the gym to add some muscle.
If he does that, though, there’s a lot to be excited about.
Holmgren averaged 3.7 blocks per game and was the WCC’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was a second-team All-American during the 2021-22 season. On the year, he nearly averaged a double-double during the 2021-22 season at Gonzaga, averaging 14.1 points and 9.9 rebounds a game. He shot well, especially for a seven-footer, making 60.7% of his field goals, 71.7% of his free throws, and 39% of his three-pointers. The long-range shooting from a player his size will definitely play well in the modern NBA.
Another thing to be excited about is that, in his time running the Thunder (and Seattle SuperSonics before the move), Sam Presti’s previous early draft picks have hit.
Highest OKC draft picks under GM Sam Presti
2022 Chet Holmgren 2nd
2007 Kevin Durant 2nd
2009 James Harden 3rd
2008 Russell Westbrook 4th pic.twitter.com/PJOchyxnuX— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 24, 2022
Following four league MVPs will definitely create high expectations for Holmgren. But Presti clearly has an eye for high-end talent.
About Michael Dixon
About Michael:
-- Writer/editor for thecomeback.com and awfulannouncing.com.
-- Bay Area born and raised, currently living in the Indianapolis area.
-- Twitter:
@mfdixon1985 (personal).
@michaeldixonsports (work).
-- Email: mdixon@thecomeback.com
Send tips, corrections, comments and (respectful) disagreements to that email. Do the same with pizza recommendations, taco recommendations and Seinfeld quotes.