Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren joins John Stockton and Domantas Sabonis as the third former Gonzaga Bulldog to be named an NBA All-Star as a reserve for Team USA. It won’t be the last time that he’ll join the world’s greatest talents on the biggest stage, that’s for sure.
The No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is currently averaging 17.8 points on a shooting split of 57.1 field goal percentage/37.7 three-point percentage/77.4 free throw percentage, 8.6 rebounds (No. 17 in the league), and 2.0 blocks per game (No. 3 in the league). His 13 double-doubles are tied for the 23rd-most in the NBA.
Holmgren’s a major reason why the reigning NBA champion Thunder holds down the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference standings at a 38-11 overall record. The two-way threat has always been an elite rim protector, but has stepped up offensively with former Santa Clara Broncos guard Jalen Williams out for the majority of the 2025-26 season. He’s only suited up for 24 games while recovering from an offseason wrist surgery on his right shooting hand and a more recent right hamstring strain.
After missing the entirety of his first professional season in 2022-23 with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, Holmgren has come into his own and become a household name. He played all 82 games during the following season and was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference during the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs.
Holmgren did have another setback in the 2025-26 season with a right iliac wing fracture, forcing him to play only 32 regular-season games. He would come back stronger than ever during their recent magical playoff run and break the NBA Finals Game 7 blocks record with five.
At 23 years old, Holmgren is still just scratching the surface of his full potential. When he’s healthy, Gonzaga’s 2021-22 Second Team All-American is one of the best defenders on the planet.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
