1. Early life and background
Chet Holmgren was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He began playing basketball at a young age, guided by his father, Dave Holmgren, who is 7 in tall and played college basketball for the University of Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. Holmgren attended Minnehaha Academy, a Christian private school in Minneapolis, starting in the sixth grade. At the time, he stood 6 in and was a teammate of future Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, with whom he would play throughout his high school career. During his first season, Holmgren sustained a broken right wrist, but used his recovery period to improve his shooting range. By ninth grade, he had grown significantly, reaching 6 in. He has two sisters.
1.1. Childhood and education
Holmgren's formative years were deeply influenced by his family's basketball background, providing a strong foundation for his athletic development. His early education at Minnehaha Academy, a private school, provided an environment where he could develop both academically and athletically. His significant growth spurts during childhood and early adolescence played a crucial role in his physical transformation into a dominant basketball prospect.
2. Amateur career
Holmgren's amateur career saw him rise through the ranks from a promising high school talent to one of the nation's most coveted college recruits, culminating in a standout season at Gonzaga University.
2.1. High school career
As a freshman at Minnehaha Academy, Holmgren averaged 6.2 points and three rebounds per game, contributing to his team's second consecutive Class 2A state championship. In his sophomore season, he elevated his performance, averaging 18.6 points and 11 rebounds per game, leading his team to secure another Class 2A state title. Following this successful season, he distinguished himself with his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, Grassroots Sizzle, at the Under Armour Association, where he earned tournament most valuable player (MVP) honors. This period marked his emergence as one of the highest-ranked players in the 2021 class, drawing significant interest from numerous NCAA Division I programs.
In August 2019, Holmgren garnered widespread national attention after a viral moment at NBA superstar Stephen Curry's SC30 Select Camp, where he famously executed a crossover move against Curry. As a junior on January 4, 2020, Holmgren recorded an impressive nine points, 10 rebounds, and 12 blocks in a nationally televised victory over Sierra Canyon School, a prominent team featuring future NBA players such as Bronny James, Brandon Boston Jr., and Ziaire Williams. Throughout his junior season, he averaged 14.3 points per game, helping Minnehaha achieve a 25-3 record.
In his senior year, Holmgren's leadership and exceptional play, averaging 21 points and 12.3 rebounds, guided Minnehaha Academy to a Class 3A state title, marking his fourth state championship during his high school career. His outstanding performance earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, a selection as a McDonald's All-American, and Minnesota Mr. Basketball.
2.1.1. Recruiting
By the start of his junior season, Holmgren had received approximately 30 scholarship offers from various college basketball programs across the nation. In June 2020, following the reclassification of player Jonathan Kuminga, Holmgren was elevated to the number one overall player in the 2021 recruiting class by ESPN. On April 19, 2021, Holmgren officially announced his commitment and signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Gonzaga University. This decision saw him reunite with his former high school teammate, Jalen Suggs, who was already playing for the Bulldogs. Holmgren was a consensus five-star recruit, ranked as the number one overall player by major scouting services including Rivals.com, 247Sports.com, and ESPN, receiving an ESPN grade of 97.
2.2. College career

In his collegiate debut for Gonzaga, Holmgren delivered a remarkable performance, tallying 14 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks, and six assists in a 97-63 victory against Dixie State. This made him the first player in 25 years to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks in a college debut. On November 22, he contributed 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
By the conclusion of the regular season, Holmgren's exceptional play earned him multiple accolades within the West Coast Conference (WCC), where he was named both the Defensive Player of the Year and the Newcomer of the Year. He was also selected for the All-WCC First Team and the WCC All-Freshman Team. Nationally, he was recognized as an All-American Consensus Second Team member in 2022.
During the NCAA tournament, Holmgren continued his strong performance, recording 19 points, 17 rebounds, seven blocks, and five assists in Gonzaga's 93-72 opening-round victory over Georgia State. In his single season as a freshman, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. On April 21, 2022, Holmgren declared for the 2022 NBA draft, foregoing his remaining college eligibility.
3. Professional career
Holmgren embarked on his professional career in the NBA, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder.
3.1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2022-present)
Holmgren was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder as the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. This selection marked a historic moment, as he became the highest-drafted player ever from Gonzaga University. He also became the highest-drafted player from the state of Minnesota, surpassing Kevin McHale, who was taken third overall in the 1980 draft, and the highest-drafted white American player since Adam Morrison in 2006.
Following the draft, Holmgren joined the Thunder's 2022 NBA Summer League roster. In his Summer League debut, he made an immediate impact, scoring 23 points, along with seven rebounds, four assists, and six blocks in a 98-77 victory against the Utah Jazz. His six blocks also set a new record for the most blocks in a single Summer League game. On July 5, 2022, Holmgren officially signed a rookie-scale contract with the Thunder. However, his highly anticipated rookie season was cut short when, on August 25, it was announced that he would miss the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot, which he sustained during a Pro-am game.
Holmgren made his long-awaited NBA regular-season debut on October 25, 2023, contributing 11 points and four rebounds in a 124-104 win over the Chicago Bulls. Just two days later, on October 27, he recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds, and seven blocks in a 108-105 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, breaking the franchise record for most blocks in a single game by a rookie. On November 18, Holmgren set a career-high with 36 points, adding 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks, and two three-pointers in a 130-123 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors. This performance made him only the second rookie in NBA history, alongside Michael Jordan, to achieve at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block, and two made three-pointers in a single game. On December 4, Holmgren was recognized for his strong start to the season, being named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in October and November. By February 25, 2024, Holmgren became the first player in NBA history to record both 150 blocks and 100 three-pointers in his rookie season.
On April 25, 2024, during Game 2 of the playoffs, Holmgren led the Thunder to a 124-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 26 points and grabbing seven rebounds. He made NBA playoff history by becoming the first rookie to score 25 or more points and achieve a plus-25 plus/minus ratio in a playoff game. Additionally, he was the first rookie in Thunder franchise history to score at least 25 points and grab five rebounds in a playoff contest.
On November 10, 2024, in a game against the Golden State Warriors, Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture after a hard fall while challenging an Andrew Wiggins drive. He was initially ruled out for 8-10 weeks. However, he was later released from the Thunder's injury report and returned to play on February 7, 2025.
4. National team career
Holmgren has represented the United States in international competition. He participated in the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup held in Latvia. Throughout the tournament, he averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. His instrumental performance led the U.S. team to a gold medal victory, and he was subsequently honored with the tournament MVP award.
5. Player profile
Holmgren, primarily listed as a center, is widely recognized for his unique and versatile playing style, often described as a "unicorn" in basketball circles due to his rare combination of size and skill. Despite his lanky build, observers note that he moves, handles the ball, shoots, and jumps with the fluidity and deftness typically associated with a guard, rather than a traditional big man.
His vertical and running leaps are notably stronger than the average for a center or power forward. His impressive 7 in wingspan significantly contributes to his exceptional blocking and rebounding abilities, allowing him to dominate defensively and on the boards. Offensively, Holmgren exhibits a strong inner and outer game. He possesses superior three-point shooting accuracy compared to most players of his size and position, making him a threat both in the paint and from beyond the arc. Holmgren also signed a shoe deal with Nike.
6. Career statistics
The following tables present Chet Holmgren's comprehensive basketball statistics from his professional and college careers.
6.1. NBA
6.1.1. Regular season
| Year | Team | Games played | Games started | Minutes per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point field-goal percentage | Free-throw percentage | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Oklahoma City | 82 | 82 | 29.4 | .530 | .370 | .793 | 7.9 | 2.4 | .6 | 2.3 | 16.5 |
| Career | 82 | 82 | 29.4 | .530 | .370 | .793 | 7.9 | 2.4 | .6 | 2.3 | 16.5 | |
6.1.2. Playoffs
| Year | Team | Games played | Games started | Minutes per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point field-goal percentage | Free-throw percentage | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Oklahoma City | 10 | 10 | 34.5 | .496 | .260 | .758 | 7.2 | 2.1 | .7 | 2.5 | 15.6 |
| Career | 10 | 10 | 34.5 | .496 | .260 | .758 | 7.2 | 2.1 | .7 | 2.5 | 15.6 | |
6.2. College
| Year | Team | Games played | Games started | Minutes per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point field-goal percentage | Free-throw percentage | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Gonzaga | 32 | 31 | 26.9 | .607 | .390 | .717 | 9.9 | 1.9 | .8 | 3.7 | 14.1 |
7. Awards and honors
Holmgren has received numerous awards and honors throughout his high school, college, and professional basketball careers:
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2024)
- All-American Consensus Second Team (2022)
- West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2022)
- West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year (2022)
- All-West Coast Conference First Team (2022)
- West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team (2022)
- Gatorade National Player of the Year (2021)
- Mr. Basketball USA (2021)
- Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2021)
- Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year (2021)
- McDonald's All-American (2021)
- Minnesota Mr. Basketball (2021)
- FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup MVP (2021)
- Gold Medal with United States at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup (2021)
8. Personal life
Chet Holmgren's father, Dave Holmgren, played college basketball for the University of Minnesota from 1984 to 1988, appearing in 57 games. Chet also has two sisters. Holmgren has a sponsorship deal with Nike for his basketball shoes.