Chet Holmgren Named NBA All-Star for First Time in His Career

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