Chet Holmgren

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.

2.1. 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.

2.2. 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.

3.1. 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.

6.1. NBA

6.2. College