The group introduced he’d be reevaluated in eight to 10 weeks, which might imply the earliest it’d even have information about Holmgren’s return can 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 is likely to 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 season’s huge free-agent signing, Isaiah Hartenstein, fractured his hand throughout a preseason sport. His harm will not be reevaluated till the top of November.
As well as, Kenrich Williams, typically 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 might be reevaluated in three to 5 weeks.
So till the top 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 photographs. Additionally they have 6-foot-9 Malevy Leons, a Dutch rookie heart who has 16 profession minutes.
This implies the Thunder must lean onerous into small-ball play, which has been part of their group philosophy for some time. Final 12 months, they had been beginning 6-foot-5 Jalen Williams at energy ahead and sometimes used Kenrich Williams because the backup. This season, they’ve used 6-foot-5 Alex Caruso at heart when Holmgren sat.
He stands out as the beginning heart now. Fortunately, the Thunder had been greatest 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 might be exacerbated.
It’ll be a troublesome three to 4 weeks for the Thunder. With out wholesome huge males, their title hopes may additionally must be reevaluated.