Chet Holmgren isn’t one to stir the pot without reason-but when it comes to teammate Isaiah Joe and the 3-point contest, he’s not holding back. After the Thunder’s decisive win over the Cavaliers, Holmgren made it clear: Joe deserves a spot in this year’s NBA All-Star 3-point shootout.
And honestly, it’s hard to argue with him.
Joe knocked down four triples in that win, part of a red-hot stretch that’s underscoring just how dangerous he’s become from deep. The Thunder were down to just 10 active players, but Joe’s shooting helped keep the offense humming. Holmgren, speaking postgame, didn’t mince words.
“I don’t know how he hasn’t gotten invited yet,” Holmgren said. “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.”
Joe’s numbers back up the case. He’s hitting 2.3 threes per game on just 5.4 attempts-a blistering 41.8% from beyond the arc, the best mark of his career.
But it’s not just the season-long consistency that stands out-it’s how locked in he’s been lately. Over his last four games, Joe is shooting an eye-popping 62.5% from three, going 10-for-16 in that stretch.
That’s not just hot-that’s microwave-level heat.
There’s no shortage of talented shooters in the league, but Joe’s efficiency and volume make him a legitimate candidate. He’s not just a catch-and-shoot guy in garbage time-he’s a real weapon in a Thunder offense that’s quickly gaining respect around the league.
And speaking of respect, Holmgren’s not just campaigning for his teammate-he’s collecting his own accolades, too. After Monday’s 136-104 blowout win, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson had high praise for the Thunder rookie, calling him the NBA’s top rim protector.
“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.
Here’s Chet Holmgren before OKC’s road game against Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/AOSXGEI3Rm
— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) January 21, 2026
We didn’t read the game right. The decision-making was troubling.”
Holmgren’s presence in the paint clearly altered the Cavs’ approach. His timing, length, and instincts continue to make life difficult for anyone trying to challenge him at the rim. It’s rare to see a rookie anchor a defense like this, but Holmgren’s doing it-and earning recognition from opposing coaches along the way.
The Thunder, now riding momentum, will look to close out their four-game road trip strong when they face the Bucks on Wednesday. With Holmgren locking down the paint and Joe lighting it up from deep, Oklahoma City is proving they’re more than just a young, exciting team-they’re a problem.