Oklahoma City Thunder Star Chet Holmgren Takes Shot At Late-Arriving Miami Heat Crowd
![May 18, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports May 18, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1996,h_1122,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_heat/01j3305nf4s5tscmny46.jpg)
Expect Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren to receive plenty boos when he plays at Kaseya Center this season.
Holmgren, who finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Victor Wembanyama last season, appeared to take a subtle shot at the Heat fan base. Duringa recent appearance on the Road Trippin podcast, he said the arena for Heat games are basically "empty."
“I like Miami, because it’s just like empty," Holmgren said "… As the away team you just got to build that lead in the first three quarters and then it just stays quiet for the fourth.”
.@ChetHolmgren sat down with @Rjeff24, @channingfrye, and @RealAClifton in Las Vegas for Episode 323.
— Road Trippin’ Show🎧 (@RoadTrippinPod) July 17, 2024
Watch on YouTube: https://t.co/wMuvI0FYPB
Listen on Wondery: https://t.co/m5XE2cQTL0 pic.twitter.com/g7jfk8qOfx
This is the second time a player has challenged the Heat fan base during the summer. Last month Heat star Jimmy Butler addressed it in an interview with Complex.
"The worst part, to me, our fans never show up on time," Butler said. "They never show up on time. I was like, `Damn, I want it to be rocking from like from the jump ball. Fans, come one, we need y'all."'
This criticism is nothing new for Heat fans. They have taken it since the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh days. The lower bowl usually fills in at some point during the first half but it takes a little longer than most arenas.
Dear Miami Heat Fans,@JimmyButler says y’all need to be more on time 😂 pic.twitter.com/X3eq3p5nBW
— Complex (@Complex) June 27, 2024
Part of it is traffic. Part of it is just folks being late. Regardless, the Heat fans always show up to support their team.
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Inside The Heat. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
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