It’s hard to miss just how skinny Chet Holmgren is when you first see him play basketball. Holmgren was scouted for his thin physique from the moment he first emerged as a Minnesota high schooler as an elite contender, but that has never stopped him from dominating the competition. Holmgren was a star at Minnehaha Academy and then Gonzaga before being picked by the Oklahoma City Thunder as the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Now he competes in the NBA Summer League.
Fans are getting their first glimpse of Holmgren in a pro uniform in Las Vegas, and he’s already living up to the hype. Holmgren is succeeding as he always has, with a combination of length, skill and tenacity rarely found in a player his size. Even though Holmgren has had some stunning games in the Summer League, some people still can’t get over his frame.
This photo was circulated on Twitter after Holmgren lost 16 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting in a summer league win against the Magic on Monday. Yes, Holmgren is still very thin.
Holmgren is just starting to grow into his body as a 20-year-old. He’ll gain muscle as he ages, but again, despite his thin build, he’s always been productive and persistent.
There were memes. Of course there were memes.
Make fun of Chet for being as skinny as you want: the guy is a proven stud. We ranked Holmgren as the #2 player on our big board to enter the draft and gave the Thunder an A+ on our draft grades for his selection. He already showed what makes him so good in the summer league.
Here some examples:
Holmgren’s slim build will continue to be a story in the NBA. Here’s a prediction: No matter how skinny he is, Holmgren will still be great. This is just the beginning.