Victor Wembanyama is considered an ‘alien’ in the NBA due to his all-round game and height. Chet Holmgren of the OKC Thunder is also entering that conversation.
Holmgren’s regular season
Before the playoffs, Holmgren, aged 24, had a strong argument for his unique status. In the 2025-26 season, he averaged 17.1 points and 1.9 blocks, shooting 36.2 percent from the floor. His accolades include an All-Star nod and an NBA Championship.
Playoff dominance
Holmgren’s game has reached a new level in this year’s playoffs. Through five games, he is averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 boards, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks. He’s shooting 57.4 percent from the floor and 45.0 percent from deep.
His defence has been particularly strong. Holmgren is holding opponents to 44.3 percent shooting from the floor. He is averaging 3.4 stocks per night and ranks third in contested shots with 11.6.
In the Thunder’s win over the Lakers in Tuesday night’s semifinal opener, Holmgren limited Los Angeles to two points on 1-of-9 shooting when he was the primary contesting defender. He had more blocks (three) than the Lakers had points in those situations.
Thunder’s success
Oklahoma City has not lost a single game this postseason (5-0). They are outperforming their opponents with a point differential of 17.4. Chet Holmgren is ranked second on the team in defensive rating at 111.4 and on-court offensive rating at 127.0 (minimum 120 minutes played) and first in true shooting percentage at 68.8 (minimum 28 shot attempts).
Holmgren’s standing
Wembanyama receives a lot of praise and attention. However, Holmgren deserves recognition as one of the best young, multi-faceted big men in the association.