OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Chet Holmgren is set to make his comeback to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup. After being sidelined with a fractured hip since November, the talented player is not listed on the team’s injury report for their upcoming game against Toronto on Friday. This indicates that Holmgren has fully recovered from his injury and is ready to hit the court once again.
To further confirm his return, Holmgren took to social media, specifically TikTok, to personally announce the news. In a video posted on Thursday, he simply stated, “I’m back,” signifying his eagerness to rejoin his teammates and resume playing.
This development comes as a welcome addition to the Thunder, who currently hold the top spot in the NBA with an impressive record of 40-9. As of Thursday, they enjoy a six-game lead over Memphis in the Western Conference standings. The team had a strong start to the season with Holmgren in the lineup, boasting an 8-2 record in the first 10 games. In his absence, the Thunder managed to maintain their dominance, going 32-7 in the 39 games he missed.
Holmgren, who was selected as the second overall pick in the 2022 draft behind Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, faced adversity early in his career when he missed the entirety of what would have been his rookie season in 2022-23 due to a foot injury. However, he made a significant impact in his debut season, playing all 82 games and finishing second in the rookie of the year voting behind San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.
Before his injury this season, Holmgren was a key contributor to the Thunder’s success, averaging 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His return is sure to bolster the team’s performance and further solidify their position as a top contender in the league.
For more NBA news and updates, visit the AP NBA hub at https://apnews.com/hub/nba.
