The Oklahoma City Thunder have flipped the switch in a big way, and right now, they’re looking like the team to beat in the NBA. Sitting atop the standings with a dominant point differential, OKC isn’t just winning - they’re steamrolling. The reigning champs are making a strong case for a repeat, and with the All-Star break fast approaching, it’s time to start talking about individual recognition, too.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already penciled in for the All-Star Game. That’s not even a debate. But there’s another name that deserves serious consideration: Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren is in the middle of a breakout season, and it’s not just about the numbers - though those are impressive in their own right. The 23-year-old big man is averaging 17.9 points on a hyper-efficient 57.5% shooting, pulling down 8.4 boards, swatting nearly two shots per game, and chipping in with 1.6 assists. But more than that, he’s anchoring the league’s best defense and doing it with a blend of shot-blocking, floor-spacing, and basketball IQ that’s rare for a player his age and position.
After the Thunder’s 111-91 win over the Houston Rockets, Holmgren’s teammates and coach didn’t hold back when asked about his All-Star credentials. And frankly, they didn’t need to - the resume speaks for itself.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s All-NBA guard and vocal leader, put it plainly:
“Chet is most definitely an All-Star.
From the moment he stepped foot on the floor with this basketball team, we're the No. 1 team in the West. It's no coincidence.
His game translates to winning and his numbers do too. I'd bet a lot of money he's an All-Star this year.”
That’s not just a teammate talking up his guy - that’s one of the league’s elite players recognizing Holmgren’s impact on winning. And he’s right.
Since Holmgren joined the rotation, OKC has been on a different level. His ability to protect the rim, stretch the floor, and play within the flow of the offense has made him the perfect complement to Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of this young, hungry core.
But if you ask Holmgren himself about the All-Star buzz, he’s not buying into the hype.
“I'm not focused on that. I don't even know how far away that is or when it is.
We got Miami coming up. We got a flight going there right when we leave here.
We got to get ready and prep for them. How I feel about that has no effect.
It's up to me to go out and try to win these basketball games. That's what I'm trying to do.”
That’s classic Chet - locked in, team-first, and all about the next matchup. It’s that mindset that’s helped him become such a vital piece of this Thunder squad. He’s not chasing accolades; he’s chasing wins.
Head coach Mark Daigneault echoed that sentiment, while making a compelling case of his own:
“I'm not going to go crazy about the campaign. But what I will say is Chet's the ultimate winner.
It's evident by the amount of winning we've done since we've had Chet. His first year, we won 57 games and were the No. 1 seed.
Last year, he obviously didn't play for some of the season, but we won in the playoffs. And then this year.
There's a reason for that. It's the rim protection.
It's the competitiveness. It's the floor spacing.
It's the unselfishness. He's going to do what it takes for the team to win.”
Daigneault isn’t just throwing out coach-speak here - he’s laying out the blueprint for why Holmgren matters so much. It’s not just the stats or the highlights.
It’s the way he impacts every possession, both ends of the floor. He’s the kind of player who makes everyone around him better, and that’s what championship teams are built on.
So as we approach All-Star weekend, the Thunder are rolling, and Holmgren is right in the middle of it all. Whether or not his name gets called for the All-Star Game, one thing is clear: he’s already playing like one. And if OKC keeps this up, don’t be surprised if Holmgren’s name starts popping up in even bigger conversations - like Defensive Player of the Year or, down the line, All-NBA.
For now, though, he’s focused on the next game. And for the Thunder, that’s exactly the kind of star you want leading your frontcourt.