Thunder big man Chet Holmgren says he used the offseason to sharpen his game and enter training camp stronger, telling reporters he’s ready to help Oklahoma City build on last season’s NBA Finals run.
SEE ALSO: OKC’s Cason Wallace ready for bigger role as Thunder training camp opens
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren says he used the offseason to sharpen his game and return stronger for the 2025–26 NBA season, telling reporters he’s ready to help the team build on last year’s NBA Finals run.
Holmgren spoke after the Thunder’s first practice of training camp at Paycom Center, where he highlighted the importance of rhythm and conditioning as the season approaches.
Focused on Offseason Improvement
Holmgren said he takes advantage of downtime to grow his game in ways he can’t during the grind of the NBA season.
“A lot of people use the offseason to do what they can’t do in-season lifestyle-wise. I use the offseason to do what I can’t do in-season basketball-wise,” Holmgren said. “There’s only so much energy you can expend in the middle of a season, so this is when I can really get after it.”
He added that the summer gave him a chance to fine-tune his skills, study last season’s film, and continue building strength and conditioning.
Continuity in Oklahoma City
For the first time in his career, Holmgren said he’s experiencing significant continuity from one season to the next.
“Not only is it great to see familiar faces that you’ve already played with,” Holmgren said, “but it’s especially great with this group of guys. There’s no group I’d rather see year after year.”
The Thunder return their Finals core, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, giving Oklahoma City high expectations heading into the new NBA season.
Check out our Chet’s full interview on our YouTube channel, Oklahoma’s Own Sports, for more:
More from Chet at OKC Thunder Media Day here:
Drake Johnson
Drake Johnson is a Digital Content Producer at Griffin Media. He joined the team in July 2021 after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism.