Former Gonzaga standout Chet Holmgren is turning heads for the top-seeded team in the NBA Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Holmgren, who missed much of the 2024-25 NBA season with a hip injury, went out and dropped 22 points with 11 rebounds and five blocks against the Detroit Pistons, his tenth double-double of the season. He is now averaging 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 2.0 assists through 28 games with the Thunder.
One person that Holmgren caught the attention of last night with his performance against the Detroit Pistons and their big man, Jalen Duren, was none other than Skip Bayless.
Chet Holmgren really impressed me tonight with his toughness vs Jalen Duren, who is a MAN. Chet: 22 and 11 with 5 blocks and several big late physical rebounds vs Duren. Chet is becoming a man.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 3, 2025
Bayless is known for his hot takes in the sports world, but that observation has a lot of truth to it. However, this isn't the first time that Holmgren has been a thorn in the side of the powerful and talented Duren. Holmgren and Duren faced off against one another in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament in 2022, when Holmgren was with Gonzaga and Duren was at Memphis.
Many expected the more powerfully built Duren to overwhelm the more slender, albeit taller, Holmgren. The Zag phenomenon got the best of Duren and the Tigers that day, though. Holmgren blocked four shots on the night and held Duren to just seven points. Duren averaged 12 points and eight rebounds on the year for Memphis.
Look for Holmgren to continue to be a driving factor in the success of Oklahoma City as the Thunder are eyeing the first NBA Championship in franchise history. If OKC does win it all, Holmgren will have been a big part of the reason why, both literally and figuratively.
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM.