Chet Holmgren Thinks Playing With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Will be 'Amazing'

The on-court metric between Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be filthy against opposing defenses, but it might take time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has built its roster through versatility. So many guys impact the game in so many ways. This starts at the top of the roster, with the All-NBA point guard showing this through his game. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 6-foot-6, has an improved defensive presence on top of his 30+ points per game on 51 percent efficiency. He's completing and rounding out his game year after year, and that trajectory is expected to continue in some facet. 

The addition of Chet Holmgren, who brings plenty of versatility to the court, will make life easier for the entire lineup, including Gilgeous-Alexander. 

“Playing with a dude like [Shai] is gonna be amazing. As a team, it’s gonna be the bigger picture," Holmgren said in an interview with the Thunder's Royce Young. "This team hasn’t had someone that is necessarily a lob threat. So, figuring out the timing and chemistry of that will take time.”

There are many different actions Mark Daigneault can tinker with as these two take the court together. As a screener, Holmgren will find many good looks from Gilgeous-Alexander, whether popping or rolling. His ability to attack a closeout with his pump fake, something he showed plenty in Summer League this year, will open up the offense even more.

As a lob threat, Holmgren gives Gilgeous-Alexander more options when attacking driving lanes or the midrange. Again, it truly just boils down to Holmgren adding what the Thunder specializes in: versatility. 

Something Holmgren alluded to, which is that building chemistry will take time, adds to something Sam Presti and the Thunder have preached throughout the entire rebuild, and that is patience. 

Once the Thunder fully immerses Holmgren into the offense and gameplan, it'll be incredibly obvious and impact not just Gilgeous-Alexander's game, but the overall ceiling of the entire team, and it'll be felt in some fashion every game. 

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.