Whereas the Thunder say Holmgren is anticipated to return to motion later within the 2024-25 season, he’ll be out for an prolonged interval. The plan is to reevaluate him in eight-to-10 weeks, per the membership.
The No. 2 general choose within the 2022 draft, Holmgren missed his complete rookie season attributable to a foot injury, then appeared in all 82 common season video games in 2023-24.
“Can’t inform if I really feel higher or worse about this, having been via one thing comparable earlier than,” Holmgren wrote on Twitter. “On one hand I understand how to strategy it, I do know what to do, what to not do and the way lovely the opposite facet is. However alternatively I’ve felt the frustration of this course of, and the damage it places in your thoughts.
“Most of all I’m harm I can’t assist my teammates and play for our followers and supporters for some time. Everybody who sticks with me and our workforce, together with my want for hoops, is a giant a part of my ardour to return. Don’t pity me or really feel dangerous, there’s plenty of folks on the market proper now with actual issues that don’t heal.”
Holmgren’s absence is a troublesome blow for a Thunder workforce that entered the season as the favourite to be the Western Convention’s No. 1 seed and had lived as much as expectations this fall, successful eight of its first 9 video games earlier than falling to the Warriors on Sunday.
Holmgren, final 12 months’s Rookie of the 12 months runner-up, had been a key a part of that early success, averaging 18.2 factors, 9.2 rebounds and a couple of.9 blocks in 28.9 minutes per recreation throughout 9 outings, with a .519/.400/.776 capturing line.
The Thunder signed heart Isaiah Hartenstein in free company to bolster their frontcourt and assist out Holmgren within the center, however Hartenstein has been sidelined with an harm of his personal, having fractured his left hand through the preseason.
Oklahoma Metropolis introduced practically 4 weeks in the past that Hartenstein could be reevaluated in five-to-six weeks, in order that examination will occur quickly. Whereas there’s no indication but that his return is imminent, it appears like he must be again on the court docket effectively earlier than Holmgren is.
The Thunder have additionally been ready on massive man Jaylin Williams, who went down with a hamstring strain practically two weeks in the past. He’s anticipated to stay sidelined for a couple of extra weeks.
Till the Thunder will get Hartenstein and Williams again, the workforce should depend on smaller lineups, because it did on Sunday after Holmgren’s exit. Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe opened the second half alongside traditional starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams. Ousmane Dieng, a 6’10” ahead, can also be a candidate for an elevated function.
“This can be a resilient, robust, aggressive, adaptive workforce,” head coach Mark Daigneault mentioned after the sport, per The Athletic. “And that’s what we’re gonna be whatever the circumstance.”
It’s price noting that rookie ahead Malevy Leons is at the moment occupying the Thunder’s fifteenth roster spot on a non-guaranteed deal. If the workforce desires to herald a veteran heart on a brief foundation, he’d be the almost certainly launch candidate. As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype points out, 13-year vet Bismack Biyombo – who spent a part of final season in OKC, is among the many high choices out there in free company.