The Oklahoma City Thunder remains a formidable team but they have questions to answer during the offseason as people thought they need to have an answer to San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama who eliminated them. The answer should be Chet Holmgren but then the 2022 second overall pick struggled big time in Game 7.
There are speculations about Holmgren’s future in OKC. There are suggestions that he should be packed for a deal to land them someone who can stop Wembanyamama – that is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Those are just speculations. It appears that the Thunder will keep him.
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Holmgren has received strong support from teammates and coaches alike. Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently defended the young center, emphasizing his importance to the team’s long-term success. According to Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren’s versatility and unique skill set make him an invaluable part of the Thunder’s championship aspirations.
Head coach Mark Daigneault shares that belief. He has repeatedly emphasized Holmgren’s importance to the organization’s core, noting that the team’s rise would not have been possible without him. Daigneault pointed out that the Thunder have consistently been a winning team since Holmgren became part of the franchise.
Indeed, Oklahoma City has emerged as one of the Western Conference’s elite teams since Holmgren returned from the foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 season. The Thunder have been among the conference’s top contenders throughout that span.
Reggie Miller’s advice to Chet Holmgren
NBA legend Reggie Miller drew attention in last Saturday’s Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals as a commentator. He had some choice of words on Holmgren who left him surprised for not challenging Wembanyama on the basket.
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Holmgren finished that game with just four points on just two attempts – uncharacteristic for some considered an All-Star.
Miller still believes in Holmgren and he is offering advice for him to get back his confidence. The retired NBA star is drawing inspiration from his own experience when he himself went through the same thing as Holmgren back in 1999.
His Indiana Pacers were among the top teams in 1998-99 season. They had a good run but then they fell to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. He thought he did not play well in that series.
Indiana Pacers’ Reggie Miller shoots a three-pointer with 5.1 seconds left in regulation to tie Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York Sunday, May 10, 1998. The Pacers went on to win the game 118-107 and take a 3-1 lead with Game 5 in Indianapolis Wednesday; Mandatory credit: The Indy Star-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Miller tried to get better and reinvented his game during the summer and in the next season, his Pacers reached the NBA Championship stage after surviving the Knicks in the ECF rematch. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Miller wants Holmgren to do the same.
“He’s going to have to reinvent himself and he’s going to have to use what everyone is saying about him. ‘He
too soft’. ‘There were fear in his eyes.’,” Miller said during an appearance at the Dan Patrick show.
“He’s going to have to use all that noise to motivate him.”
“I don’t think the Thunder will trade him. He’s too young. He’s too valuable. I think they will add something to this team. . . I wanna see what happens next year and he’s in the same situation because guess what, the Spurs aren’t going anywhere. . . He’s gonna have his opportunity versus Wemby.”
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Miller continued to say the Thunder can only entertain letting go Holmgren if he fails to show up again when the rematch takes place. As for the player, the five-time All-Star said it is an opportunity for Holmgren to grow.
“He gotta work on his game. He gotta work on his strength and mentally, he’s gotta be stronger.”