Chet Holmgren isn’t one to stir the pot without a reason-but when it comes to Isaiah Joe and the NBA’s 3-point contest, he’s not staying quiet. After another sharpshooting performance from Joe in the Thunder’s blowout win over the Cavaliers, Holmgren made it clear: his teammate deserves a spot on the All-Star Weekend stage.
Joe knocked down four triples in that win, helping Oklahoma City secure a dominant victory despite fielding just 10 active players. And while that kind of efficiency has become routine for the Thunder guard, Holmgren is baffled that Joe’s name hasn’t been mentioned among the league’s top snipers heading into All-Star festivities.
“I don't know how he hasn't gotten invited yet,” Holmgren told reporters. “I don't know how they calculate that.
I'm not even gonna sit here and make guesses, but he deserves to be out there for the 3-point contest. I'm sure that's something that he would love to do, and I'm sure if he got in, he'd go win it.
So, the league needs to send that invite.”
It’s hard to argue with Holmgren’s case. Joe is connecting on a career-best 41.8% from three this season, averaging 2.3 makes on 5.4 attempts per game.
But it’s not just about the season-long numbers-Joe’s been scorching hot lately, hitting 10 of his last 16 attempts from deep over the past four games, good for a blistering 62.5%. That’s not just good shooting-that’s elite, momentum-shifting stuff.
And Joe’s impact isn’t lost on his teammates or coaches. He stretches defenses, creates space for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren to operate, and punishes teams that dare to help off him. In a league where spacing is king, Joe is a key reason the Thunder offense continues to hum.
Here’s Chet Holmgren before OKC’s road game against Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/AOSXGEI3Rm
— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) January 21, 2026
Holmgren, for his part, had a standout night of his own against Cleveland-and earned some high praise from the opposing sideline. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t mince words after watching Holmgren patrol the paint, calling him the top rim protector in the NBA.
“We got the rim 19 times in the first half. We got to the paint.
We got to the rim,” Atkinson said. “I’m kind of disappointed with how we read the rim, right?
They got Chet Holmgren in there. He’s probably the number one rim protector in the league, and we didn’t kick it out.
We have to understand. It was physicality and force, but I also think it was our reads in the game.
We didn’t read the game right. The decision-making was troubling.”
That’s the kind of respect Holmgren is earning in just his first full season on the floor. He’s not just altering shots-he’s altering game plans. And when paired with the kind of perimeter shooting Joe brings, the Thunder are proving they can beat you inside, outside, and everywhere in between.
Oklahoma City wraps up its four-game road trip on Wednesday against the Bucks, but the bigger picture is clear: this team is for real. And if the NBA is paying attention, Isaiah Joe should be packing for All-Star Weekend. He’s earned it-one triple at a time.