Chet Holmgren was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November. During this stretch, he averaged 17.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.11 blocks per game. The 21-year-old also shot 53.7% from the field, 41% from 3-point range and 87.1% from the free-throw line.
Chet Holmgren Is an Early Rookie of the Year Favorite
Holmgren Has Huge November
This shouldn’t be a surprise. Holmgren quickly played his way into being the early favorite for the Rookie of the Year award. The 21-year-old has been a staple in the early success of OKC (13-6). He also led the Thunder with six double-doubles during that span.
One of Holmgren’s big highlights from those 18 games came on November 18 when he set a Thunder rookie record by scoring 36 points in Oklahoma City’s 130-123 over the Golden State Warriors. On top of posting big numbers, he came up clutch, hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the game to overtime.
The seven-footer was drafted No. 2 in the 2022 NBA draft. He missed the entire 2022-23 season, recovering from a Lisfranc injury he suffered in the 2022 offseason.
Holmgren’s impressive start to the season earned him this award and closed the Rookie of the Year odds gap. He started, alongside Scoot Henderson, as one of the closest rookies, trailing Wembanyama, who was a steep favorite.
With Holmgren’s significant contributions to the team record, he officially leads the Rookie of the Year race. He is surpassing Spurs rookie center Victor Wembanyama.
Chet Holmgren’s Stats So Far Throughout the Season
He has shown steady diets of being a future first NBA defense kind of guy, along with being a multi-time all-star if health allows him to do so
Thunder officials said Oklahoma City is one of only three teams to have a player named Rookie of the Month in three straight seasons since 2008-09
Clutch time is the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points.
Chet Holmgren in the clutch:
39 PTS (10th in NBA)
13/21 FG (61.9%)
4/7 3PT (57.1%)
9/10 FT (90%)
+24 plus-minus
He leads the league with six clutch blocks.
Chet is the first player in NBA history to average 300+ points, 50+ blocks, and 30+ 3-pointers in their first 25 career games. Chet has 423 points, 71 blocks, and 38 3-pointers.
Ninety players have taken at least 10 Clutch Field goal attempts per NBA dot com. Chet is 13th in this category. Nineteen players have taken at least 25 clutch field goals attempted per NBA dot com. Chet is 5th in this category, with a shooting percentage of 70.7.
In his last two games, Chet has recorded 15 blocks, which ties Serge Ibaka for the most in a two-game span in OKC Thunder history. Chet Holmgren became the first Rookie since Tim Duncan in 1998 to register 7+ blocks in consecutive games.
Chet Holmgren’s Impact Leads to Winning
The Thunder currently holds the 2nd seed in an intense Western conference. Chet has significantly influenced this young team’s success throughout the season.
The rookie center continues to play like one of the best players in the league, and he has helped elevate this young Thunder team, the 2nd youngest in the NBA this season, to contender status.
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