NBA Rookies: Thunder’s Chet Holmgren Finds Success Early in Games

Oklahoma City center Chet Holmgren has been the NBA’s best rookie in first quarter play this season.

As good as Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren has been holistically this season, he’s best early in games. The Thunder has seen success in first quarters through the first week and a half of the 2023-24 campaign, in large part due to Holmgren.

Through six games this season, he’s averaged 6.8 points per first quarter. This is the best of any rookie in the league by a long shot, with Victor Wembanyama behind him in second at 4.4 points per first quarter.

What’s been most impressive is his ability to get to his spots. He’s already established himself as an early part of the offense, with head coach Mark Daigneault having the confidence in him to kick off games as a primary option.

This offensive production has been from all over the court as well. He seemingly always knocks down at least one triple in the first quarter, which is a huge boost to the team’s momentum. He’s also flashed upside in the midrange with turnaround jumpers as well as scoring near the rim as a lob option or putback threat.

Over the last week specifically, Holmgren has been dominant early on. Against the Denver Nuggets, he scored the Thunder’s first three buckets. In other contests, he’s been the team’s leading scorer in the first quarter regularly.

While his second halves haven’t been as productive, the early parts of Holmgren’s games have been incredibly impressive. Once he starts to put full games together, don’t be surprised if he starts scoring 20 points nearly every night.

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