Is Chet Holmgren playing tonight against Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Cup Final?
Chet Holmgren will not be available for the OKC Thunder in their NBA Cup Final matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. Holmgren is currently recovering from a right iliac hip fracture and is expected to remain sidelined for at least another month. The star center sustained the injury last month during the Thunder's 127-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The former Gonzaga standout has already missed 15 consecutive games, but his absence hasn’t slowed down Mark Daigneault’s team. The Thunder continue to perform at an elite level on both ends of the court and currently hold the top spot in the Western Conference standings with an impressive 20-5 record.
Still, coach Daigneault would undoubtedly have preferred Holmgren's presence in the high-stakes NBA Cup Final, particularly with the challenge of facing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Holmgren's ability to stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting and his elite shot-blocking would have provided the Thunder with a significant boost.
Before his injury, Holmgren was delivering strong numbers this season, averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game through 10 appearances. He was shooting efficiently at 50.5% from the field, including 37.8% from beyond the arc.
Mark Daigneault on Chet Holmgren
Chet Holmgren was in attendance for the OKC Thunder's NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 10. The young center, seen on crutches, enthusiastically cheered from the sidelines as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. secured a commanding 118-104 victory.
Following the game, head coach Mark Daigneault expressed his excitement about having Holmgren around the team. He emphasized that the 7-foot-1 star remains in good spirits as he continues to recover from his devastating injury.
"We've had him around more often. He's in good spirits," Daigneault said. "I think mentally, he's cleared some hurdles here where he's starting to make some progress. I think initially when that happened, you just go to sit. That could be hard for a guy like him.
"He's been through the process before. He understands the value of taking it step by step. He's doing a great job with that. He'll continue to make progress, and he'll be back at some point."
Although Holmgren will undoubtedly be disappointed about not being able to contribute on the court, he will be fully supporting his teammates from the sidelines when the NBA Cup Final tips off in Las Vegas on Tuesday.