'You don’t fake that': Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren passing NBA start with flying colors

PHOENIX — Chet Holmgren paused to choose his words wisely. To attempt to summarize a year within a single Tuesday morning scrum response.

He hesitates often. He’s calculated but not quite filtered, expressive but within clear boundaries. In the moments that follow, he’s projected an uncommon level of awareness — of his surroundings, of his stature — for a 21-year-old.

But he froze longer this time.

How could he properly explain how he’s integrated himself so well, so early into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s nucleus without a Ted Talk?

“That could be a 10-minute answer,” he said.

The 7-foot-1 rookie has had a year to understand the inner workings of a young 40-win team, to dissect its parts and envision himself within. To reimagine himself post-Lisfranc injury, develop his own expectations and give his rookie season a true go.

Still, his NBA start is far more complex than an answer in passing. Through his first eight games, Holmgren averaged 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks while shooting 55.6% from 3.

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'Not making it the Chet show'

Swapping jerseys with Stephen Curry, early verbal stamps from Draymond Green, admiration from players and coaches league wide. Holmgren’s first couple weeks as an NBA player have hit the streets harder than tall tees in the 2000s.

And it’s all come without ever having to step outside himself.

“I just tried to come in and find the balance between being aggressive and not making it the Chet show,” Holmgren said. “It’s not that, it’ll never be that.”

Mark Daigneault has long recognized the traits that have helped Holmgren cruise. A genuine love for the game, an aged attention to detail. The Thunder coach remembers pre-draft meetings with Holmgren and Sam Presti, their conversations trickling deep into basketball lore.

During one meeting, Presti referenced former Pacers forward Ian Mahinmi. Holmgren engaged.

“He was like, ‘Ian Mahinmi was in Indiana, right?’” Daigneault recalled. “And it was like, woah. You don’t fake that. There’s a lot of faking in the draft process. You can’t fake being 21 and knowing who Ian Mahinmi is.

“You just knew this guy was a junkie.”

Daigneault had no expectations for Holmgren entering this season. Not just because of Holmgren’s year spent sidelined. He’s seen far too many rookies unravel at different speeds to try and keep up.

“I’ve learned my lesson on that with players,” Daigneault said. “You never know how things are gonna go, how things are gonna unfold. The thing I give him credit for — and Cason (Wallace) as well — is we talk to our rookie players … we talk to them about building a very strong foundation for their game inside the team.”

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Chet Holmgren 'puts his body on the line'

It isn’t all perfect for Holmgren. Matched up with Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis in a 105-98 loss on Friday, Holmgren showed human qualities. Four turnovers, seven missed shots. It was an obvious blemish for a rookie who appears further along than he should be.

Daigneault has challenged Holmgren to map out his role, to find his spots — to find himself — inside the confines of what already stood. Holmgren has gripped the game and made it his.

His strides have taken him from corner to corner on single plays, closing out on opposite shooters. His awareness has helped him ditch ball handlers to forcefully greet musclebound centers at the rim. His toughness has turned big men away.

For every time someone has attempted to frame his "Welcome to the NBA" moment with a poster slam, he’s bursted mid-air bubbles twice as often. His 13.3 contested shots per game rank third in the league.

“He’s never scared to jump with anybody,” Thunder guard Josh Giddey said. “He puts his body on the line.”

On offense, his shooting has been mythical. His catch-and-shoot opportunities have been in-rhythm and fruitful, a fitting extra dimension for a lineup that typically puts him alongside four guards. Short post turnaround jumpers, trail 3s. An eerie combination of size and touch.

Holmgren’s makeup and start to his career have been a reminder of just how marginal the pool of true basketball unicorns is.

After Wednesday’s 128-120 win over the Cavaliers, Holmgren became the second rookie in league history to have 15 3-pointers and 20 blocks over any eight-game span, following former Rocket Eddie Griffin (2001-02).

He’s been such a practical, precise tool that it’s left viewers questioning whether there are even better ways to wield him. Whether he should be actively seeking to take over stretches of games with his shot selection. Where other rookies are simply navigating how to be net positives for their team’s offense, there are times where Holmgren has been the offense.

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Thunder still learning about Chet Holmgren

Understanding how to implement him even further isn’t a simple formula. Holmgren is still new  — to Daigneault, to the Thunder, to NBA basketball. Everyone around him has weighed the good in what’s come of his early, unforced usage while also still finding when and how he should expand his mark on the game.

“I think the simplicity of how he’s played is contributing to the efficiency to a large extent,” Daigneault said. “But clearly, there’s more that he can do on the floor. He’s still learning where and how to do that. … I’m still learning where and how he can do that.”

Added Holmgren: “I’m always gonna be aggressive when I go out there, but I’m not gonna let my aggression make me make the wrong play. The game will tell you what the play is. You’ve just gotta listen.”

He’s made a seemingly predetermined Rookie of the Year race less obvious than rocket scientists previously figured. He’s given a journey to follow should anyone break their trance from San Antonio star Victor Vembanyama.

"The Chet Show" wouldn’t be the worst thing to breeze through Broadway — it’d have to star the rookie himself instead of somebody like Adam Driver on stilts. Truthfully, there hasn’t quite been a precise comparison for the player Holmgren has both looked like and foreshadowed early on.

He’s pit against Wembanyama by destiny. Compared to Kristaps Porzingis for lack of a better reference. Linked to Kevin Durant with the rite-of-passage, lazy comparison any lanky, skilled hooper draws during ascension.

But Holmgren has leaned closer to his own mold. He’s chosen his own words, too. He’s navigated the intricacies of the league like anything but a novice.

Daigneault could’ve foretold as much by simply naming mid-2000’s role players.

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Thunder vs. Suns

TIPOFF: 7 p.m. Sunday at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. (Bally Sports Oklahoma)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren passing NBA start with flying colors