Chet Holmgren Set To Make Long-Awaited NBA Debut After Injury Recovery

Photo: Instagram/Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren, the highly acclaimed player from the 2022 NBA Draft class, is poised to make a triumphant comeback on Monday night after being sidelined due to injury.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, who selected Holmgren, had to wait patiently for his debut as he missed his entire first season recovering from an injury sustained during an off-season pro-am game.

However, the wait is finally over as Holmgren gears up to take the court against the Utah Jazz in one of the initial games of the 2023 NBA Summer League. To refresh everyone's memory on Holmgren's capabilities, Draft Digest writer Derek Parker recently released a YouTube video analyzing Holmgren's performances during his time at Gonzaga University.

Photo: Instagram/Chet Holmgren

Standing tall at 7 feet with an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan, Holmgren is set to become a crucial piece of the puzzle for the Thunder. The team has been operating without a true center for the past three years, and Holmgren's return brings much-needed elite rim protection, size as a rim runner, and transition threat.

Additionally, his passing skills and quick decision-making abilities align perfectly with the Thunder's successful rebuilding strategy. During his college career at Gonzaga, Holmgren showcased his talent by averaging 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game.

His shooting percentages were equally impressive, with 61 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc, and 72 percent from the free-throw line. These numbers demonstrate Holmgren's versatility and effectiveness on both ends of the court.

Accompanied by Jalen Williams, the 2022 Rookie of the Year runner-up, and a talented group of young Thunder players, Holmgren will make his much-anticipated return at 8 p.m. as they face off against the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz, on the other hand, will feature their own highly touted rookies, Taylor Hendricks and Keyonte George, who were selected ninth and sixteenth overall in the 2023 draft, respectively. This matchup is sure to provide an exciting showcase of emerging talent in the NBA.

Read Next: Aaron Judge Drops Subtle Hint On Potential Return Date As Yankees Teammate Gerrit Cole Shows Support

Source: Sports Illustrated 

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