What makes Chet Holmgren a force inside for OKC Thunder? 'He eats the punches'
When Chet Holmgren faced the media following the team’s West Coast trip at the beginning of March, he appeared straight out of a "Rocky" scene.
Cuts and bruises and black eyes. Battle scars that all rested upon his face after a week of brutal blows from opposing bigs. For whatever reason, Holmgren has seemingly taken more beatings (particularly above the neck) than plenty of his fellow big men.
Does that contact concern Thunder coach Mark Daigneault?
“In the head, yeah,” Daigneault said Wednesday night after a 119-107 win against the Jazz, a night of Holmgren and-1s. “… Other than that, he’s a pretty tough guy. He eats the punches.”
Holmgren will admit as much himself. As a defensive anchor, he’s involved in so many actions. Up high, down low. Trying to block every shot that makes sense, trying to alter any others within his reach. Maybe fists fly toward his face like heat-seeking missiles.
More: Which OKC Thunder player made the deepest run in the NCAA Tournament? It may surprise you
That’s just the price of doing business.
“His nose is in every play, literally,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.
With so much contact, so many obstacles between him and the rim, Holmgren has to find the balance between finesse and force. Surely he isn’t as buff as prime Dwight Howard, able to shift defenders with the swing of a bicep. And surely he isn’t so into finesse that he’s too soft for the game.
It'll be an ongoing battle for Holmgren, who'll gradually add muscle while never intending to lose any touch or skill. Wednesday saw a good balance.
“You always wanna try and play with force,” Holmgren said, “but not necessarily let it get into a wrestling match, where I'm usually not the bigger or heavier guy.”
More: Why is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander slipping in NBA MVP race despite Thunder leading the West?
Thunder at Raptors
TIPOFF: 6 p.m. Friday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (KSBI)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren happy to prove 'he eats the punches'
