Chet Holmgren

While Chet Holmgren’s long-awaited NBA debut may have been a full year in the making, confirmation on his star potential required merely a few opportunities with the basketball, and a matter of minutes. Battling through what he called the “excitement and anxiety” of his first-ever regular season game, the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s introduction — and his turnaround jumper — offered equally-smooth sailings. Tested immediately against a Chicago Bulls team boasting former All-Star centers in both its starting lineup and second unit, the 2022 No. 2 pick aced the exam, mixing heady, team-first hustle plays with accurate catch-and-shoot triples and fearless rim attacks to keep the opposition guessing. Advertised as the type of generational talent capable of elevating the “5” position to a new level, Holmgren’s opening act provided a precursor of what both his historic, All-Rookie Team-bound Year One and the Thunder’s incredible season would entail, as he contributed 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers, helping key a win on October 25, 2023.

Three-Star Rookie