'I Make My Looks Count!' OKC Thunder Rookie Chet Holmgren Speaks on Quality Over Quantity
To this point, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren hasn't just been one of his team's top talents, but one of the NBA's.
Between his 7-foot-1 frame, which bodes well for defense, and his ability to create his own offense, it's easy to see why. Holmgren was expected to be one of the league's most exciting talents, and after missing what would have been his first season, he's been just that in his makeshift rookie year.
That includes shooting and defending, yes, but to him, nothing is more important than being efficient, and he made that very clear Tuesday.
"I've always been someone who tries to win basketball games," Holmgren said. "Making it all about myself isn't going to help this team do that. Getting 30 points on 35 shots doesn't make you a great scorer. I try to make my looks count."
"The more efficient you are, the better chance you have to win a basketball game," the 7-footer would go on to say.
Holmgren's mindset is solid. He isn't leading the Thunder in scoring as is, but he doesn't have to. He's able to impact the team in a way that helps them win — evident by Oklahoma City's fourth-place stance in the Western Conference — and his coach is taking notice, too.
“He’s done an unbelievable job of plugging into the team,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Holmgren's impact. “We have a group of guys that have been growing together. He’s had an appropriate level of respect for that. He hasn’t been passive. He’s sticking his nose into the fight."
If Holmgren is sticking his nose into the fight, he's having to bend down quite a bit, but that's nothing new for the rookie. Not physically speaking, Holmgren has adjusted his game to whatever his team needs from him. He's able to grab rebounds, generate turnovers, convert from behind the arc or even pull up from midrange if that's what's being asked of him. His most recent games are testaments to that.
As Holmgren continues to hone his skills on the court and learn off of it, he'll also continue to be a big part of their early success, which is exactly what the Thunder had hoped for.
In other words, Holmgren's presence is beginning to pay off, and it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of stopping.
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