Chet Holmgren isn’t hiding the goal. The Thunder big man has already won an NBA title, and now he’s aiming for the next big prize: a spot on Team USA for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Anytime you get to represent your country and put those letters across your chest, it's an extreme honour,” Holmgren told reporters at NBA 2K Community Day.
“I've done it before, and it was one of the most exciting things that I've done, and to have that opportunity would be kind of the highest honour you can have in this game.”
Holmgren’s connection to USA Basketball goes back a few years. He led Team USA to gold at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, earning MVP honors after the Americans edged Victor Wembanyama’s France, 83-81, in a tight finish.
He was also part of the conversation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, landing in the 41-player finalist pool after making the USA Select Team ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
On the floor, Holmgren just turned in another strong season for Oklahoma City. He posted career bests in points, at 17.1 per game, and rebounds, at 8.9, while adding 1.7 assists and 1.9 blocks. He shot 55.7 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from 3-point range, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
With Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant unlikely to be part of the 2028 group, Team USA’s frontcourt picture is starting to take shape for a new era. Holmgren figures to be in the mix for Erik Spoelstra’s big-man rotation alongside Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bam Adebayo, Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler.
In Other News...
Westbrooks Farewell Just Hit Thunder Fans Right In The Heart
Russell Westbrooks NBA run ended after an 18-year career, with the former Thunder star closing the book on a journey that stretched all the way to Sacramento. For Oklahoma City fans, it is the kind of news that lands with extra weight, because Westbrook was never just another ex-Ther player passing through the league. He was the face of an era, the relentless engine of a franchise that grew up alongside him, and his farewell instantly pulled a lot of memories back into focus.
One of the more notable reactions came from DeMar DeRozan, who shared a public goodbye after they were teammates with the Kings last season. DeRozan has since moved on to Denver on a one-year deal and is expected to handle a Sixth Man role, but his message added a personal touch to a moment already loaded with nostalgia. For Thunder fans, it is another reminder that even as the league keeps moving, Westbrooks place in the story of Oklahoma City still resonates far beyond the final box score. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Just Locked In A Title Piece At A Stunning Value
Isaiah Hartensteins run with the Thunder is set to continue after he agreed to a new three-year extension, keeping one of Oklahoma Citys most important frontcourt pieces in place through the 2028-29 season. Since arriving, Hartenstein has fit neatly into a team that has kept winning at the highest level, including a title run in 2025, and the move gives the Thunder another layer of continuity around a roster that already looks built to contend.
What makes the deal especially notable is the price point, which leaguewide has already drawn attention as a bargain for a center of Hartensteins caliber. He took a little less than his market value to stay in Oklahoma City, a sign of how much the situation matters to him and how well the fit has worked so far, even if the full implications for the Thunders long-term cap picture will continue to be watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Have A Young Rotation Battle Fans Should Watch
The Thunder are heading into a familiar kind of reset, one that usually comes with a champions problems instead of a rebuilding teams. After offseason departures thinned out the rotation, Oklahoma City is expected to lean more heavily on rookies and other untested pieces as it sorts through the minutes left behind by Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
That is where the real interest starts to build for Thunder fans, because this is no longer just about keeping the bench afloat. Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz are all in position to get a look, and Stirtz has the kind of profile that could make him harder to ignore if the team needs more perimeter scoring. His college shooting efficiency gives him a chance to outplay expectations, which can turn a quiet competition for rotation spots into one of the more intriguing early season storylines. [Read more 🡒]