The crew introduced he’d be reevaluated in eight to 10 weeks, which might imply the earliest it’d even have information about Holmgren’s return could be early January. If it is 10 weeks, which means he’d miss a minimal of 30 video games.
This can be a uncommon harm for a basketball participant, so there isn’t any telling what Holmgren’s restoration may be like. It is an enormous setback for a participant who already missed the 2022-23 season with a Lisfranc harm in his foot. Final season, Holmgren stormed again to complete second within the Rookie of the Yr voting and assist the Thunder to the No. 1 seed. Now, he has to look at from the sidelines once more.
Holmgren is not the one Thunder heart who’s on the shelf. This summer time’s massive free-agent signing, Isaiah Hartenstein, fractured his hand throughout a preseason recreation. His harm will not be reevaluated till the tip of November.
As well as, Kenrich Williams, usually used as a small-ball heart regardless of standing simply 6-foot-6, had knee surgical procedure in September. He has no timetable to return. 6-foot-9 Jaylin Williams reaggravated a hamstring pressure final week and shall be reevaluated in three to 5 weeks.
So till the tip of the month, the tallest lively participant on the Thunder is 6-foot-9 heart Ousmane Dieng. Dieng has performed 82 video games in his three NBA seasons and has blocked 15 pictures. Additionally they have 6-foot-9 Malevy Leons, a Dutch rookie heart who has 16 profession minutes.
This implies the Thunder must lean exhausting into small-ball play, which has been part of their crew philosophy for some time. Final yr, they had been beginning 6-foot-5 Jalen Williams at energy ahead and infrequently used Kenrich Williams because the backup. This season, they’ve used 6-foot-5 Alex Caruso at heart when Holmgren sat.
He could be the beginning heart now. Fortunately, the Thunder had been finest within the NBA at forcing turnovers final season, and that was with out the All-Defensive Caruso. However that they had issues rebounding, and people shall be exacerbated.
It may be a tricky three to 4 weeks for the Thunder. With out wholesome massive males, their title hopes may also should be reevaluated.
