Isaiah Hartenstein plays Chet Holmgren’s All-Star campaign with a “white boy” microphone

Sixteen games into the 2025-26 season is not too early to Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein‘s All-Star campaign for Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is enjoying the fruits of his offseason practices this season, prompting Hartenstein, Chet’s frontcourt vice president, to campaign for his teammate’s potential All-Star selection.

With a caption that read, “God forbid a white boy get a little movement,” Hartenstein posted an old picture of Holmgren in street clothes with the words “All-Star” across his face to his 24-hour Instagram story.

Holmgren, who played in 32 regular season games last season, has never put together an All-Star campaign. His season-ending foot injury forced him to miss his entire rookie season before the 2023-24 season, Chet’s first full 82-game regular season.

Averaging 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, Holmgren is on pace to earn his first All-Star selection. And he has public support from Hartenstein, who is campaigning for his teammate three months in advance. Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 12 rebounds and two blocks in a 113-99 win against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Holmgren’s 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks helped the Thunder secure their 15th win of the season as Oklahoma City improved its NBA-best record to 15-1.

Chet Holmgren’s offseason approach ahead of the Thunder campaign

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren revealed that this past summer was his toughest of any NBA offseason. Holmgren is a big part The Thunder’s electric 15-1 start to the regular season. He felt his presence on both ends of the floor.

Holmgren recently reflected on his NBA career, which led him to his first championship, but that didn’t stop the 7-footer from slowing down over the summer.

“A lot of times I think back to that year when I got hurt before I played a single game of basketball in the NBA, and I worked just as hard that summer as I did this summer,” Holmgren said. “Obviously this summer was longer, but I feel like now I’ve learned how to get better. I know what I need to get better at. Before, I just worked hard because I wanted to work, and that’s what I do, and I love playing basketball every day.

“But you go through a long stretch of the playoffs and you win the finals, you really get your best shot up to seven straight times against really good teams. And that teaches you what you have to work on. I feel like I did a great job this summer, along with what I do every summer, I work on my body, I work on my overall game, but at the same time I feel like I’m working smart, I am.

Holmgren and the Thunder will face the Jazz on Friday.