Holmgren breaks record in just his second NBA game

After missing the entirety of last season due to injury, Chet Holmgren has finally made his NBA debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and in the opening week, he has already broken a franchise record, proving that the wait was worth it for the 7'1 forward.

Franchise Record

In the Thunder's victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, rookie Holmgren recorded 7 blocks, which is the most by a rookie in franchise history. Despite breaking the record, Chet himself felt unsatisfied and thought he should have had more, even calling out the NBA's stat trackers on social media.

@nba please go watch the tape and give me the correct # of blocks. Idc about stats but I worked hard af for those😂 good W thunder up lol— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) October 28, 2023

This was a hugely impressive feat, especially after his debut game two nights earlier, which saw Chet struggle, recording zero blocks and only 4 rebounds. In his post-game press conference, Chet acknowledged his poor start and used it as motivation, claiming his first performance was unacceptable.

Chet Holmgren: «First game, I had 0 blocks and 4 rebounds. I thought that was unlike myself. I hold myself to a standard. And I felt like that was unacceptable.»

Second game, Chet had 7 blocks and 13 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/vAbvBRntdx— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) October 28, 2023

Holmgren's potential

The 21-year-old rookie still has a lot of time to develop within this young core in Oklahoma City. The defensive display he showcased against the Cavaliers highlights his potential to become an elite rim protector in the NBA. Holmgren also recorded 13 rebounds and 16 points, including 3 three-pointers.

Following a long list of superstars drafted by the Thunder, Holmgren will have a more than capable training staff to support his development. With no real championship expectations as of right now, there will be lots of room for Holmgren to flourish naturally and become an All-Star caliber player, as he has hinted at being throughout moments in his short career thus far.

Credits
Larry Brown Sports