After a standout rookie season in 2023-24, OKC Thunder center Chet Holmgren has been diligently working out during the offseason to build on his impressive debut. Since the Thunder’s elimination by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Holmgren’s intense training sessions have gone viral on social media, with his latest workouts including scrimmages with All-Stars like Kevin Durant and Trae Young.
As a key player on a promising team with championship aspirations, Holmgren’s goal for his second year is to solidify his position as a top-tier player and become a reliable second option on a title-contending team. According to former Thunder guard Raymond Felton, these training clips demonstrate Holmgren’s commitment to becoming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s key support player. Felton, on his podcast “To The Baha” with Theo Pinson, emphasized that identifying a strong number two option is crucial for the Thunder’s rise in the NBA hierarchy.
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Chet Holmgren putting in work to be number two option on Thunder
Considering the current roster for the OKC Thunder, Felton highlighted that the top candidates for the second-in-command role are Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, another player from the 2022 NBA Draft. While Jalen Williams was the team’s second-leading scorer last season with 19.1 points per game on 14.0 attempts, Holmgren’s impressive offseason workouts suggest he might be the frontrunner for this key role.
Felton emphasized that it’s not about competing against each other but about elevating their game to the next level. Both players need to step up and define who will be the second option. He praised Holmgren for his hard work and preparation, noting that he looks great.
In his rookie season (following a redshirt year in 2022-23 due to a Lisfranc injury), Holmgren proved himself as a formidable two-way player. Over 82 games, he averaged 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 53.0% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. His performance earned him a spot on the All-Rookie First-Team and second place in the Rookie of the Year race.
As Holmgren enters his second season, expectations are high for his continued development. Felton and Pinson believe that if Holmgren can reach even higher levels of play, the Thunder could become a very formidable team.