OKLAHOMA CITY — The return of Chet Holmgren from injury has made the already impressive Oklahoma City Thunder even stronger. After being sidelined for nearly three months due to a pelvic fracture, the 7-foot-1 forward made his way back into the starting lineup on Friday night. During the Thunder’s 121-109 victory against the Toronto Raptors, Holmgren contributed with four points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two steals.
“I’m thrilled to be back,” Holmgren expressed. “I worked hard to make this happen, and I’m excited to help the team continue winning and improving.” Over 22 minutes of play, the Thunder outperformed the Raptors by 22 points with Holmgren on the court.
The second overall pick in the 2022 Draft had missed what was supposed to be his rookie season due to a foot injury. During his first full season, he played all 82 games in 2023-24, averaging 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, which significantly helped the Thunder secure the top seed in the Western Conference. Before his current injury, he had managed to average 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds across 10 games this season, although such numbers were not anticipated for his return game.
“It’s a significant milestone in his comeback. However, the journey to full performance is still ongoing,” remarked Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “Players recovering from lower-body injuries require time to regain their game shape and endurance. Our focus will be on a week-to-week strategy, but this was a fantastic beginning.”
Fortunately for Holmgren, the Thunder managed to maintain their strong performance with MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the team as they sat comfortably at the top of the Western Conference standings with a record of 41-9 after defeating Toronto.
His return was highly anticipated, evident from the enthusiastic cheers during pregame warmups, escalating to thunderous applause when he was introduced as the first player from the Thunder. Holmgren’s initial points came from a floater just over two minutes into the game. Following this, he skillfully assisted teammate Isaiah Hartenstein to score with another floater after driving into the lane.
Just shortly after, Holmgren showcased his established footwork and scoring skill by executing a fadeaway jumper from inside the free-throw line, demonstrating the form that Thunder fans remember. His most notable moment came in the fourth quarter when he impressively blocked a dunk attempt from Scottie Barnes.
For the first time this season, Holmgren played alongside Hartenstein, who recently returned from a broken hand sustained earlier in the season. Despite only taking five shots, Holmgren was aware that he didn’t have to focus solely on scoring to impact the game.
“It’s not about being the star player,” he stated. “This is a team. Regardless of my injury, my aim is to contribute to our victories. I don’t want to detract from our collective goal of winning games night in and night out.”
Daigneault acknowledged the challenge of integrating such a talented player into a successful lineup but praised Holmgren for being a supportive teammate, easing the transition. “We don’t expect it to be flawless,” he noted. “If taking one step back is necessary to move forward more effectively, we’re prepared for that, especially since we see immense potential for growth.”
