Why Rookie Chet Holmgren is the Center the OKC Thunder Needed

After just two NBA Preseason games, Oklahoma City rookie Chet Holmgren has impressed across the board. And on a big-picture scale, that means much more than just on-court success.

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn't need any more reason to be excited for a 7-foot-1 center with a jumpshot, but it certainly does, especially after two NBA preseason games. 

Yes, Oklahoma City knew Holmgren's potential. He was highly touted for a reason — and selected with the No. 2 overall pick for that same reason — with all the potential in the world. 

That was, until he suffered a season-ending injury before his season even started. 

Since then, it's been the same story for Holmgren and the Thunder. Will he become the next "What If?" How much does he really impact the team? Will he just get injured again? 

The latter question has seemingly been answered through the Thunder's first looks in preseason. Holmgren has played, and played well. But while that's a good sign from a game-by-game perspective, it's a great sign from a bigger-picture approach. 

Holmgren is the true center that Oklahoma City needed.

Chet Holmgren in two preseason games:

18.5 PPG
6.5 RPG
2.0 BPG
52/50/86%

Leading all rookies in total points and free throws. pic.twitter.com/1vdTUc08y9

— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 13, 2023

“If you watched the thunder last season, not only did they not have a good center, they didn’t have a center," Utah Jazz Senior Basketball Advisor Kevin O'Connor said on the Bill Simmons Podcast Wednesday. "They basically went small ball the entire season.”

"Small ball" by NBA standards means putting a 6-foot-10 Jaylin Williams at the five. Williams isn't small in the slightest, but he also doesn't have the mark of a true center. He spaces the floor well and has height on him, but he lacks a rim-protecting presence down low. His go-to move isn't a screen-and-roll and he plays more like a forward. Again, not bad things, but not Holmgren. 

Holmgren, through two games, has led all rookies in total points. But he's also put up four blocks and a steal on top of shooting 70 percent from the floor in his first outing against a 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama. Holmgren has floor spacing ability and a defensive presence near the rim — which does make him a modern-day NBA center.

Oklahoma City as a whole hasn't had a player play a traditional center role since Steven Adams left town following the 2019-2020 season. Adams wasn't a floor spacer, but his defensive play and screen ability was like no other, and it showed. Oklahoma City relied heavily on Adams and its stars, which is something that it can now attempt to find with Holmgren. 

Holmgren is a star in his own right — his performances thus far have proven that — and will contend for Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. And if the Thunder can find success through him and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or him and Josh Giddey or him and Jalen Williams — it will be in good shape. 

It doesn't take an expert to see what Holmgren brings to a squad, especially at his height, but taking a closer look actually gives reason to believe that the Thunder will be even better this season with him as a center. And that's exactly what it needed. 

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