Why Mark Daigne, the Thunder need an aggressive Chet Holmgren

A stonemason Oklahoma City Thunderafter a rare two consecutive defeats at the Paicom Center, will look to recover, and Chet Holmgren should be a big part of it. The The Thunder lost 103-101 to the Toronto Raptors should be a turning point for the head coach Mark Daigneault and defending champion, which extends beyond giving Holmgren more opportunities to score late in games.

In the midst of Holmgren’s breakout season, which put him in position to make his first All-Star selection, the seven-footer went for a potential game-tying pull-up jumper that was blocked and resulted in a turnover against the Raptors. The play would ultimately decide the outcome of the game. Chet finished with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 10 rebounds. Toronto’s defense held Shai Giljus-Alexander to 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

While attempts for the team’s second-leading scorer should increase amid SGA’s shooting struggles and injuries to more than half of Daigneault’s rotation, including two starters, Holmgren’s attempts fell to 11.0 per game in January compared to his 11.8 average on the season. Holmgren needs to be more aggressive on offense, especially in a game where Gilgeous-Alexander, who takes nearly 20 shots per game, is held to 11.

Daigneault has often said that the Thunder won’t tailor an offense for one particular player, but instead will instill a team philosophy of countering opposing defenses’ schemes. However, he sometimes has to encourage Holmgren to take matters into his own hands. The Thunder, who are missing Jaylen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso, could really use a lift, especially from one of only a handful of Thunder players who can create.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who spoke after Sunday’s defeat for the Raptors, he couldn’t get a shot going in the final 90 seconds of the game.

“Personally, it looked like we had control of the game. We looked good, offensively,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They had 103 points tonight. That usually suits us. It was just one of those nights.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Thunder loss to Raptors: “Personally, it looked like we had control of the game. We looked good, offensively. They had 103 points tonight.

That usually works for us” pic.twitter.com/8ET8RDLCCk

— Joshua Pavon (@joe_svai) January 26, 2026

The Raptors’ 103 points are the fewest the team has needed to beat the Thunder this season. And it wasn’t one of those games that Oklahoma City gave up because of Gilgeous-Alexander. After a game where SGA’s 47 points weren’t enough to beat the Pacers two nights earlier, the reigning MVP needs another option. Sunday’s loss was another win for the Thunder.

Much like Jalen Williams was Gilgeous-Alexander’s understudy last season, Holmgren stepped into a similar role in 2025-26, but wasn’t nearly as aggressive as Jalen. Williams averaged 21.6 points on 14.0 attempts per game last season, a significant gap in attempts compared to Holmgren’s 11.8. There’s no reason why Chet can’t get the same or close to the same number of touches, especially while JDub is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Chet Holmgren needs to step up because of the Thunder’s injuries

On the eve of hosting the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City The Thunder added Cason Wallace to their injury report. Wallace, another player in the rotation, adds to the injury pile the defending champions have accumulated since December. All of the Thunder’s most influential players are making an impact on both ends of the floor, including Cason, Ajay Mitchell, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, who have been ruled out for Tuesday’s game.

While Kenrich Williams — averaging 15.0 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last three games — has been outstanding off the bench in the absence of Hartenstein and Jaylen Williams in the starting lineup, Chet Holmgren has to be one of the focal points of the Thunder’s offense. Behind All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren is the second most capable of putting together a 30+ point night. We’ve seen what an aggressive Chet looks like, and the numbers are staggering.

In games where Holmgren takes 15+ shots, which isn’t often, his scoring is up to 24.3 points on 65.2% shooting this season. So far we have seen a goal like this from Holmgren in nine games. However, this is the aggressive Holmgren the Thunder need as they navigate a slew of injuries that have tested Oklahoma City’s depth and coach Marc Daigneault’s second unit, which has passed that test with flying colors.

Williams, along with Aaron Wiggins and the efficient scoring of Isaiah Joe, is doing his part off the bench. As for Holmgren, he has to be aggressive. This is what the All-Stars have going for them, especially alongside the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has had three 40+ point performances in January so far, including 47 points on 60% shooting that came in the loss.

SGA does what most All-Stars do. The All-Stars are raising their game, especially for a team that has lost three of its last five games. It’s time for Holmgren to do the same. His 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting in a two-point loss in which the Thunder barely reached 100 won’t cut it.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is campaigning for Chet Holmgren

Ahead of the announcement of this year’s NBA All-Star Reserves, Shai Giljus-Alexander has backed up Thunder teammate Chet Holmgren with some very kind words ahead of this year’s all-star event. Gilgeous-Alexander, who watched Holmgren miss his entire rookie season with a foot injury, saw Chet blossom into the championship hitter he is today.

In his All-Star game for Holmgren, Gilgeous-Alexander reminded reporters of Chet’s journey, which was filled with adversity. Gilgeus-Alexander also recalled how much Holmgren undoubtedly contributes to the Thunder’s victory.

“The company has kind of (been) plagued by injuries in the past, otherwise I would have had a few under my belt already,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But his impact in winning is unmatched. And if you don’t win, it doesn’t matter. No matter where you go — from GM to owner to coach to player to fan — everyone wants to be a part of a winning team. And if you add Chet Holmgren to your group, you add wins.

“You saw it here firsthand. And he just continues to grow and get better with his skill and his game. I’m not sure what his stats are, but I feel like he’s having the best year of his career, offensively. Then, defensively, he’s a monster. It’s a no-brainer for me. He should definitely be an All-Star.”

SGA, Holmgren and the Thunder will look to end their three-game homestand on a high note when they host the Pelicans on Tuesday.