Chet Holmgren gets All-Star praise from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Oklahoma City Thunder they are currently sitting on top of the NBA world, and according to Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderit’s not accidental. After a dominating 111-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, the Thunder superstar made one thing clear, Chet Holmgren belongs in the All-Star game.
“Chet is definitely an All-Star,” Gilgeus-Alexander he told reporters. “From the moment he stepped on the court with the basketball team, we’ve been No. 1 in the West. That’s no accident.”
Holmgren certainly looked like an All-Star against Houston. The 7-foot-1 phenom set the tone early at the Toyota Center, scoring 11 of the Thunder’s first 21 points. He was a model of efficiency, finishing the night with 18 points on an incredibly sharp 7-of-9 shooting from the field.
But, as is usually the case with Holmgren, his impact extended far beyond the scoring column. He anchored a defense that held the Rockets to a miserable 33.7% shooting on the night, recording nine rebounds and four blocks. His ability to protect the rim while stretching the floor, hitting 2-of-3 from deep, has become an X-factor for the league-leading Thunder.
The game remained close through three quarters, but the Oklahoma City Thunder flexed their muscles in the final frame. Led by the Gilgeous-Alexanders 20 points and a huge spark off the bench from Cason Wallace (17 points), OKC outscored Houston 34-16 in the fourth quarter.
The Rockets, led by Kevin Durant’s 19 points, just couldn’t keep up as the Thunder went on a 14-0 run to put the game on ice. At 35-7, the Thunder are no longer just a “spooky” young team; they are the gold standard of the Western Conference. And if you ask their front man, it’s time to start printing Holmgren’s All-Star jersey.
2026-01-16 04:06:00
