After missing out on the 2022-2023 season with a Lisfranc fracture, Holmgren put together a historic rookie campaign.
Along with Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) and Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder) is a finalist for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 16.5 PPG (3rd amongst rookies) on 53.0 FG%/37.0 3PT%/79.3 FT%, 7.9 RPG (2nd amongst rookies), 2.4 APG, and 2.3 BPG (2nd amongst rookies).
Holmgren finished with 22 double-doubles in the regular season and led his Thunder to #1 seed in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record. None of the other two finalists even made the playoffs.
The former #2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is the first player in NBA history to finish a season with at least 200 assists, 190 blocks, and 129 three pointers. It seems as if the voters will end up going with Victor Wembanyama but he’s been one of the most impactful rookies the league has seen in quite a while.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho