OKC Thunder Rookie Chet Holmgren Slips to No. 2 in Rookie Rankings, Shows Growth vs. Minnesota

Facing off against a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Rudy Gobert, Chet Holmgren struggled mightily. But a second matchup allowed the Oklahoma City Thunder rookie to grow and adapt, which helped spark the three-game win streak his team currently sits on.

Oklahoma City Thunder Chet Holmgren isn't the unanimous Rookie of the Year, nor will he be. 

He's been making his case since Summer League, when he put on a strong performance at the rim to pair with a promising offensive prowess. Between his length, mobility and awareness, he has the makings of a Defensive Player of the Year — though some would argue he's already a candidate — and a difference-making big man, which he's already proving to be.

Since the season started a few months ago, there hasn't been a rookie ranking he hasn't been at or near the top of: total rebounds, total blocks, average blocks per game, average points per game, Rookie of the Year ladders, etc. He's shined as a first-year star for a team that truly needed it, and with the way the Thunder has played, that's payed off for both parties. 

In the most recent rookie ranking, however, Holmgren slid a spot from No. 1 to No. 2 as Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr. is. beginning to rise up the attention ladder. But Holmgren's performances haven't gone unnoticed, either. 

In fact, one game in particular stood out.

"Almost a month ago to the day, when Holmgren and the Thunder faced the Timberwolves for the first time things didn't go great for the OKC big man," CBS Sports wrote. "He went just 6-of-20 from the floor, one of his most inefficient games this season, and while he managed to be valuable in other ways by racking up eight rebounds and dishing out six assists, it was one of the first times Holmgren legitimately looked bothered by the defense." 

Holmgren hasn't had many bad games, especially with the supporting cast he's a part of behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Sure, he hasn't lit up the stat sheet every time he's taken the court, but he's played well. Jalen Williams has played well. Luguentz Dort has played well. Isaiah Joe, too. 

Holmgren has more room for error, and while he hasn't been making a ton, his first Minnesota performance stood out. And not in a good way.

"It wasn't just a case of an off night, Rudy Gobert flexed his Defensive Player of the Year muscle and welcomed Holmgren to the NBA with a wake-up call," CBS Sports continued. "He bumped the rookie off balance every time he drove toward the rim and didn't give him an inch of space to pull off any of his usual jumpers."

So, when it came time to face the Timberwolves again in a highly-ranking Western-Conference matchup, all eyes were again on Holmgren and Gobert. And Oklahoma City's rookie delivered. 

"You can see how Holmgren developed and learned from that matchup," the site concluded. "The rookie used his agility to catch Gobert on his heels, forcing the three-time DPOY to defend on the move and recover downhill, something he's not especially great at." 

Holmgren displayed growth and poise going up against a multi-time Defensive Player of the Year and did so while looking good himself. He notched 20 points, five rebounds and a block in his team's victory to add an adaptability element to his overall impressive rookie season. And for him, that's the most important part.

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