Chet Holmgren’s ‘extremely’ honest reaction to the first NBA All-Star selection

Joining the Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in his first All-Star gameThunder ahead Chet Holmgren showed his appreciation for his first All-Star selection after a 121-111 win against the Nuggets. Holmgren finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three blocks after securing his first NBA All-Star appearance in Los Angeles.

After beating the Nuggets, Holmgren thought about it how does that feel to go to his first All-Star Game to represent the Thunder.

“It means a lot. I just have a lot of people to thank – the help they’ve given me along the way. From family friends, coaches, old teammates, current teammates, the Thunder, the opportunity they’ve given me and the position they’ve put me in. I’m always forever grateful for that,” Homgren said.

“I always say I’m never going to play or chance things of that nature, but that doesn’t mean there’s not an appreciation for it and an understanding of the weight of it. I’m extremely grateful and I just feel like I have to keep going, and I’ve got so much (further) to go.”

Holmgren, considered a contender for this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award, is having the best season of his career. Chet is averaging 17.7 points on 56.6% shooting and 8.5 rebounds, career highs in each statistical category. He is also averaging 2.1 blocks per game this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander backs up Chet Holmgren for All-Star

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s All-Star case for Chet Holmgren was simple — Holmgren effects victory for the defending champion with the best record in the NBA. For Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren’s All-Star bid was easy ahead of this month’s All-Star weekend.

“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.”

in 2026 NBA All-Star Game will adopt a new USA vs. World format and will be a round-robin tournament with three teams: two made up of American players and one made up of international players. The tournament will be played on February 15.