Chet Holmgren heads into next season with a little less room for error than he had a year ago.
Oklahoma City is expected to lean more heavily on its star core, and that shift could make life tougher for Holmgren as he tries to work his way back into the All-Star mix in 2027. Last season, the Thunder had two All-Stars again, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander landing his fourth selection and Holmgren earning his first. Jalen Williams missing the first month and a half, plus additional time scattered through the year, opened the door for Holmgren to step into the No. 2 role and collect the kind of individual honors that tend to follow.
He did more than just fill a gap. Holmgren finished with first-team All-Defensive honors and made his first All-NBA team, and his rise as Oklahoma City’s second option carried into the postseason while Williams remained mostly out. Through the first two rounds, Holmgren was rolling, especially around the rim, and looked like the kind of player who could settle in as the second-best piece on a title team.
Then came the Western Conference finals, and Victor Wembanyama changed the tone of everything.
Holmgren’s production fell off sharply in that series, down to 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The numbers alone were enough to cool some of the buzz, but the story got louder in Game 7, when he finished with just four points and four rebounds. That outing only fed a narrative that has lingered all offseason and figures to stick around until the games start again, if it fades at all.
That matters because Holmgren is already facing an uphill climb in the race for another All-Star nod. If Williams stays healthy, Holmgren may not get the same runway he had last season, and that puts him in a tougher spot when it comes to stacking up the kind of résumé points that sway voters and fans.
Still, he’ll get an early chance to answer some of that noise. On opening night, the Thunder visit San Antonio to face the Spurs, which means Holmgren will see Wembanyama again right away. A strong performance - or even something much closer to Holmgren’s usual standard - would help chip away at the postseason doubts, especially if Oklahoma City leaves with a win.
For now, he may still be viewed by plenty of NBA fans as a player who has to prove it when the playoffs arrive. But if Holmgren can show more against the Spurs, it could do a lot to improve the way he’s perceived heading into next season.
And even if the All-Star result doesn’t follow, the Thunder would happily take elite defense and All-Star-level production from Holmgren all year long.
In Other News...
Sam Presti Just Avoided The Roster Drama Another Contender Faces
Restricted free agency can turn into a slow-burn headache for contenders, and Detroit is in the middle of one with Jalen Duren. The Pistons reportedly have a deal on the table worth more than $35 million a year, but nothing is finalized yet, leaving the young big man and the organization in a familiar late-summer stalemate. For a team trying to build momentum, these are the kinds of contract talks that can hang over everything until they get resolved.
Oklahoma City has had a much cleaner path with its own core. Sam Presti and the Thunder already locked up extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, two pieces who helped drive the franchise to the 2025 championship, and that matters in a league where retaining young talent often gets messy fast. It is a reminder that while some contenders are still navigating the uncertainty of who stays and at what price, the Thunder have been able to keep their foundation intact and move on to basketball. [Read more 🡒]
Russell Westbrook Left A Lasting Impact On A Future Thunder Player
Russell Westbrooks playing days may be over, but the former Thunder star is still leaving a mark on the next wave of NBA talent. Jared McCain recently looked back on his time with Westbrooks AAU team at the 2022 Peach Jam tournament, describing the experience as more than just a stop on the summer circuit. For a young guard trying to find his footing, having a former league MVP around the gym offered a different kind of lesson, one rooted in professionalism, attention to detail and the kind of respect Westbrook has long commanded around basketball.
McCain also made clear that Westbrooks influence has not faded with retirement, pointing to the way the veteran has continued to support younger players beyond that event. It is another reminder of why Westbrooks legacy in Oklahoma City still resonates so strongly: the numbers and the highlights are one thing, but the lasting impression he leaves on players coming up behind him may wind up mattering just as much. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Let Go Of Three Key Pieces And Fans Will Be Watching
The Thunders offseason keeps tilting in a new direction after moving on from three familiar rotation pieces, and it leaves a very different look around the edges of the roster. Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe all found new homes, with each departure carrying a different kind of impact for a team that has spent the past few years valuing defense, versatility and shot-making in its supporting cast.
What makes the situation worth watching is not just what Oklahoma City gave up, but where those players landed and how their next roles may open up. Dort and Wiggins are headed to Atlanta, where both are projected to fill specific needs on the wing, while Joe is moving to Detroit with a path to bench minutes that could matter later in the year if the Pistons lean deeper into their reserve options. [Read more 🡒]