The Oklahoma City Thunder got some terrible news early on Monday.
Star big man Chet Holmgren, their second-best player and one of the best rim protectors in the game, sustained a hip injury in their loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Five minutes into the game, the Gonzaga product challenged Andrew Wiggins at the rim and took a hard fall.
He’ll be out for at least 8-to-10 weeks with a fracture.
With that in mind, Holmgren took to social media to express his frustration at not being able to be on the floor and help his teammates night in and night out.
Can’t tell if I feel better or worse about this having been through something similar before. On one hand I know how to approach it, I know what to do, what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the…
— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) November 11, 2024
This is a massive blow for Mark Daigneault’s team.
They were already very thin in the frontcourt, as Isaiah Harstentein will be out for at least another two weeks while he nurses his way back from a hand injury.
Jaylin Williams is also out with another ailment, and this team’s lack of size was already a primary concern entering the season.
This is also Holmgren’s second lengthy absence since he entered the league.
And while he still has a chance to play for most of the season, the margin of error in the Western Conference is close to zero.
The Thunder are currently sitting on an impressive 8-2 record, and coach Daigneault will have to hit the drawing board to make up for such a loss.
Also, they will most likely have to dig deep into the free-agent market to find a big man.
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Fans React To Chet Holmgren Injury News