The Thunder won’t have to sit around and wonder for long whether their faith in Chet Holmgren was the right call.
After Oklahoma City was beaten by the San Antonio Spurs in a Game 7 showdown just a few months ago, Holmgren became one of the biggest questions coming out of that loss. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried as much of the load as he could, but plenty of the supporting cast didn’t meet the moment. Holmgren, the former third overall pick, was especially quiet, taking only two shots and barely making a mark on the floor.
Even so, GM Sam Presti made his stance clear when it came time to assess Holmgren’s future, backing the seven-footer without hesitation. That decision still stands heading into the 2026-27 season, and with the NBA schedule now out, the Thunder are set to get an early answer on whether that commitment pays off.
The league released its full schedule on Thursday, and Oklahoma City’s Opening Tip Off sends it straight into a rematch with one of its new Conference rivals. The Thunder will head to San Antonio to face Wemby and his group of dangerous young stars, and that’s where Holmgren will have to show whether his offseason work has actually carried over.
There’s little doubt the big man has been grinding this summer, which is exactly why Presti and the Thunder were comfortable sticking with him. But workouts in the offseason are one thing; dealing with a 7'4" Frenchman staring you down is another. That’s not the kind of challenge you can really recreate in a gym, and Holmgren may not know until the opener whether he’s prepared for it.
Oklahoma City’s confidence in Holmgren fits the same development-first approach that has shaped the roster around him. The organization has long chosen growth over the quick fix, and that path has helped produce players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell.
Holmgren’s case has made that philosophy a little harder to swallow, though. It wasn’t just the rough shooting in Game 7 that stood out. His lack of confidence and reluctance to attack made the issue feel bigger than a bad night.
Now the Thunder get their answer right away. On October 20th, Holmgren will be under the spotlight from the opening tip, and Oklahoma City won’t need to wait long to see whether he’s turned the corner.
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For Oklahoma City followers, the larger point lands close to home because Westbrook has long been one of the most polarizing stars to ever wear the uniform. Greens frustration centered on how often Westbrook was underrated in real time, even as his contributions were piling up season after season. The reaction now is less about revisiting old arguments and more about whether the league finally appreciates what Thunder fans watched up close for years. [Read more 🡒]