Chet Holmgren opened the 2026-27 season by going straight at two of the league’s biggest names and walking away with the kind of early statement that gets noticed fast.
“In the moment, it’s just trying to figure out and do what it takes to win. Think I had the best compliment of my life today.
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) October 23, 2026
Kenny Hustle said he’s never seen me play harder. I don’t know if I was just getting to a lot of loose balls or if I was actually playing that hard, but… pic.twitter.com/1BQ3U5FQjR
On Opening Night against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, Holmgren helped set the tone in a 116-104 Thunder win, holding Wembanyama to 12 points while the All-Star center went 1-for-13 in their first meeting since Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Holmgren finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in that one, helping Oklahoma City strike first in a new chapter of the NBA’s newest rivalry.
Then came Nikola Jokic and the Thunder’s home opener. Once again, Holmgren was right in the middle of everything.
Oklahoma City and Denver both had trouble from deep, each shooting 27% or worse on 3-pointers, but Holmgren made life difficult for the three-time MVP all night. Jokic finished with 13 points on 5-for-19 shooting, including 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Holmgren matched the physical battle with 17 rebounds and four blocks, outworking Jokic on the glass by 10 boards and helping fuel a 17-point Thunder lead in the fourth quarter of a 96-84 win.
Afterward, Holmgren pointed back to the standard that has driven Oklahoma City since the rebuild years and carried the team to a championship run in 2025 and nearly back-to-back trips to the Finals last season.
“We're 2-0. That's great.
Personally, I feel like there are so many areas to improve. So much to clean up.
I know we feel the same way as a team, and that's the mindset we always try to have,” Holmgren said. “Whether we're 2-0, 0-2, one game into the season, 80 games into the season, we're looking at where we can be better.
And that's what we're going to do. In the moment, it's just trying to figure out and do what it takes to win.”
The praise didn’t stop in the locker room. On Thursday night, veteran forward Kenrich Williams gave Holmgren a compliment he said he’ll remember forever.
“I think I had the best compliment in my life today. Kenny Hustle [Kenrich Williams] said he’s never seen me play harder,” Holmgren said. “I don’t know if I was just getting to a lot of loose balls or if I was actually playing that hard, but for Kenny Hustle himself to say that, I was honored.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault wasn’t shocked by what he saw from Holmgren against two of the NBA’s most dominant centers. Coming off the Game 7 loss in the Western Conference Finals, Daigneault said Holmgren’s impact fit exactly who he is.
“I'm not surprised. He's such a monster competitor,” Daigneault said.
“The block he had, I thought, really swung the game. That was a huge momentum play for us.
It came after he had two straight turnovers that he was frustrated with. And he had foul trouble, too.
Him making that play in that moment when the game's not going the way that we want it to go, he wants it to go, offensively, he's got some fouls. That embodies who he is.
But not a surprise. He's a great player.”
Daigneault also credited Holmgren for holding the defense together while Oklahoma City went through a rough offensive stretch for two-and-a-half quarters. For a Thunder team with championship goals, that kind of work on the defensive end is exactly the sort of thing that stands out early in the season.
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