By Michael Kinney
The Oklahoma City Thunder opened up training camp last week as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season. It is the first camp as a full participant for Chet Holmgren, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft.
Holmgren injured himself last summer and missed the entire 2022-23 season. However, after a productive offseason, he heads into this year carrying high expectations for himself and the team.
The 21-year-old Holmgren had his first preseason NBA action Monday night when the Thunder hosted the San Antonio Spurs and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. The contest turned into a showcase for both big men and the possible future of the NBA.
“They went at each other a couple of times and it was interesting,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “It shows their character, their competitiveness and they did it within reason. “Neither one was shooting horrible shots, they weren’t trying to do one another in or anything. It was basic basketball, and the basketball gods will agree. They are going to be a lot of fun for everyone to watch over their careers.”
Holmgren finished the night with 21 points on 7 of 10 shooting to go along with nine rebounds in just 16 minutes.
Holmgren sat down for a Q&A before training camp and talked about his mindset as he prepared for his first official year in the league.
Question: How do you feel going into a season and getting ready to play again?
Chet Holmgren: Yeah, I feel great. I think gratitude is a great way to describe it. You know, thankful for this. I don’t want to overlook anything or take anything for granted. I wouldn’t have done that even if the injury did not happen. Been a long time away and now I’m here. Very excited.
Question: What do you think he sort of meant by that and just maybe how do you think the game and how do you approach the tough time of going through injury rehab?
Holmgren: He could be alluding to a couple things. Maybe a combination of things from just the way maybe I process the game, the way I think about the game. And also, like he said, gratitude, how much I appreciate the game and how much it means to me. I think he’s alluded to a combination of those things.
Question: What was the summer like for you being selected to Team USA?,
Holmgren: Just trying to take advantage of every opportunity to get better. I feel like that’s always what I try to do day-in and day-out from not only this summer but last summer as well. Because of what happened, I didn’t want to shy away from opportunities to play against good players and still play even when it’s not 82 regular season games. Just there has to be an understanding and an awareness of the situation, time and place and everything. I feel like I did a really good job this summer of really calculating where I was playing and the situations and the settings, but still going out and really chasing the competition and opportunity to get better.
Question: You got some things done that helped you, was anything beneficial that you wouldn’t have experienced if you had gotten to play?
Holmgren: From the moment I got hurt, I had an understanding that I could either let this one bad thing spiral into many bad things and let it accumulate to one big, bad situation. But I feel like I did a really good job of taking a bad situation and a bad moment and really making the most out of it. My whole attention and intention, I mean, throughout the last season, the last year was to really turn what could be a curse into a blessing and I feel like I did a really good job of that, really focusing in on game days of on what the routine was, on how other teams played, how other people played, how other teams played, how our guys played being in the halftime looms, pregame locker rooms film sessions, whatever it might be. Just trying to lock it in whenever I can so I can use it for moments like this.
Question. One of the things that was talked about was you wanting to add some strength over the last year or so. Did you gain weight? Looks like you put on some strength and if so, how did you go about doing that?
Holmgren: Definitely not playing last year and having to be extremely focused on 82 games and the recovery that comes with that and the sleep that comes with that, etc., I was really able to key in on my body, not only rehab and getting healthy from my injury. But also strengthening other areas of my body and I feel like I was able to do that really well through specific dieting and meal prep, meal plans and stuff, as well as being in the weight room and having a specific routine to help me with my weaknesses as well as strengthen my strengths. I feel like I did a good job of saying consistent with what and not waning, even on days I wasn’t excited to go and move some pounds around but it definitely helps for sure.
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