Chet Holmgren: From Gonzaga Standout to NBA Star

Chet Thomas Holmgren, born on May 1, 2002, is an American professional basketball player currently with the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His journey to the NBA began long before his debut with the Thunder, with a notable high school career and a single, impactful year playing college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Early Life and High School Career

Holmgren hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he honed his basketball skills under the guidance of his father, Dave Holmgren, a former college basketball player for the University of Minnesota. Standing at 7 ft 0 in tall, his father's influence was pivotal in Chet's development.

From sixth grade, Holmgren attended Minnehaha Academy, a Christian private school in Minneapolis. There, he teamed up with Jalen Suggs, now a guard for the Orlando Magic, forming a formidable duo throughout their high school years. By his freshman year, Holmgren already stood at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).

As a freshman, Holmgren averaged 6.2 points and three rebounds per game, contributing to his team's Class 2A state championship victory. His sophomore season saw him elevate his performance, averaging 18.6 points and 11 rebounds per game, leading Minnehaha Academy to another Class 2A state title. He also excelled with his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, Grassroots Sizzle, earning the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.

Holmgren's senior year culminated in a Class 3A state title, his fourth state championship with Minnehaha Academy. He averaged 21 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. His outstanding performance earned him several accolades, including Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, and a McDonald's All-American selection. He finished his high school career with an impressive record of 1,567 points, 964 rebounds, and 456 blocked shots, helping Minnehaha Academy achieve a 128-15 record.

Recruitment

Rated as a consensus five-star recruit, Holmgren was the top-ranked player in the 2021 class. According to his 247Sports recruiting profile, Holmgren was No. 1 across the board - the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota, the No. 1 center prospect in the country and the No. 1 prospect overall in the 2021 high school graduating class. 247Sports recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins compared him to Anthony Davis. The McDonald's All-American received reported scholarship offers from the likes of Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Kansas, LSU, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Southern California and Texas, among many other schools.

College Career at Gonzaga

Holmgren committed to Gonzaga, becoming the program's highest-rated recruit since 2000, one spot ahead of his former teammate Jalen Suggs. Holmgren's classmates Hunter Sallis (No. 3) and Nolan Hickman (No.

Impact and Statistics

During his single season at Gonzaga, Holmgren showcased his unique abilities, earning the moniker "unicorn" due to his rare combination of size and skill. As a 7-footer, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. He also demonstrated his shooting prowess by averaging 1.3 3-pointers per game, shooting at a 39-percent clip.

In his college debut, Holmgren delivered with 14 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks and six assists in 28 minutes, making all four of his shots inside the arc and attempting nine free throws, "becoming the first player in the last 25 seasons with at least 10 points, 10 boards, five assists and five blocks in his collegiate debut," wrote The Spokesman-Review's Jim Meehan.

Key Performances

Holmgren scored a season-high 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting as he went six for seven inside the arc and three for five from behind it. That performance tied the second-most 3-pointers he made in a game all season. For the third game in a row, Holmgren posted a double-double, with 20 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in a 33-point win over BYU.

Read also: US Education System Performance

In Holmgren's first NCAA tournament game, he tied a program record with 17 rebounds against Georgia State as part of a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double with a program-record seven blocks and five assists.

Accolades

Holmgren's freshman season was marked by numerous accolades, including being named to the NABC Player of the Year Watchlist, WCC Player of the Week, and WCC Freshman of the Week nine times. He was also a Naismith Trophy Semifinalist, a Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Finalist, and a Wooden Award National Finalist. Additionally, he earned titles such as WCC Newcomer of the Year and WCC Defensive Player of the Year, along with being selected for the All-WCC First Team and various All-American teams.

NBA Draft and Early Career

After an impressive year at Gonzaga, Holmgren declared for the NBA draft and was selected second overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2022 NBA draft. This made him the highest-selected draft pick ever taken out of Gonzaga and the highest-drafted pick from the state of Minnesota.

Holmgren joined the Thunder's 2022 NBA Summer League roster. In his Summer League debut, Holmgren scored 23 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and six blocks in a 98-77 win against the Utah Jazz.

Injury and Recovery

Unfortunately, Holmgren's debut season was delayed due to a Lisfranc injury to his right foot sustained in August 2022, which sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 season.

Read also: Waterville's Colby College

NBA Debut and Rookie Season

Holmgren made his NBA regular-season debut on October 25, 2023, putting up 11 points and four rebounds in a 124-104 win over the Chicago Bulls. On October 27, Holmgren put up 16 points, 13 rebounds, and seven blocks in a 108-105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, breaking the franchise record for most blocks in a single game by a rookie. On November 18, Holmgren put up a career-high 36 points along with 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks, and two three-pointers in a 130-123 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors.

His outstanding performance earned him the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for December 2023.

On April 25, Holmgren led the Thunder to a 124-92 Game 2 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, recording 26 points and seven rebounds.

Despite a right iliac wing fracture in his pelvis sustained in November 2024, Holmgren returned to play on February 7, 2025.

Continued Success

Holmgren made 32 starts for Oklahoma City during the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Holmgren and the Thunder reached the 2025 NBA Finals, where they won in seven games over the Indiana Pacers, with Holmgren recording 18 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks in the decisive seventh game.

Contract Extension and All-Star Selection

In July 2025, Holmgren agreed to a rookie max extension with the Thunder. By 2026, Holmgren was selected as an All-Star for the first time.

National Team Career

Holmgren represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Latvia, where he won a gold medal and earned the TISSOT MVP award.

Player Profile

Standing at 7-feet tall with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Holmgren is known for his versatility and unique skill set. He moves, handles, shoots, and jumps fluidly, often compared to a guard rather than a traditional big man. His exceptional vertical and running leaps, combined with his impressive wingspan, make him a standout shot-blocker and rebounder. Holmgren was dangerous in the pick-and-roll, given his length that allows for a great catch radius. Standing at 7-feet tall, with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, it doesn't take much - in terms of dribbling or jumping - for Holmgren to be able to dunk, so he makes for a great target on lobs to the rim. While Holmgren's release on jump shots wasn't necessarily quick - and it didn't necessarily always have to be when you're 7-feet tall with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, because who is going to block that shot? - he averaged 3.3 3-point attempts per game and he made 1.3 of them, on average, for a 39-percent clip.

tags: #chet #holmgren #college