Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren. Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Chet Holmgren surpasses Kevin Durant as OKC's best rookie ever

By Sai Mohan | Last updated 4/25/24

Kevin Durant will likely go down as the best player in Thunder history, but his postseason career didn't get off to the best of starts. During the 2010 playoffs, Durant shot a paltry 35 percent from the field as OKC lost 4-2 to the Lakers in the first round.

Chet Holmgren, regarded by many as the spiritual successor to Durant in a Thunder uniform, is off to a much better start in his playoff career.

In the two games against the Pelicans thus far, Holmgren is averaging 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks with shooting splits of .556/.417/.750 and a remarkable effective field-goal percentage of .648.

During Wednesday's Game 2 win, Holmgren nearly outscored the entire Pelicans team by himself in the first quarter, with his 15 points being the most by a Thunder rookie in any quarter of a playoff game. Through the midway mark, Holmgren became the first rookie in over a decade with 20 or more points in the first half of a playoff game.

The first rookie with a 20-point first half in the playoffs in over a decade. https://t.co/E9vJUiTFHM
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 25, 2024

By the end of the game, Holmgren made some more Thunder history, becoming the first rookie to log a 25/5 game in the postseason.

Chet tonight:

26 PTS
7 REB
9-13 FG
3-6 3P
+32

The first Thunder rookie with a 25/5 playoff game. https://t.co/E9vJUiTFHM
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 25, 2024

The Gonzaga alum's historic outing came days after he joined an exclusive club for a stat line few playoff debutants had ever amassed.

Holmgren's meteoric rise wasn't exactly forecasted. Despite being drafted No. 2 overall by the Thunder, Holmgren was regarded by some as "too skinny" and undersized to thrive in the physicality of the NBA game.

However, on Wednesday, Holmgren more than held his own against Jonas Valanciunas, one of the most physical big men in the NBA who rarely gets manhandled in the paint.

While Holmgren doesn't have Durant's overall offensive skill set — not yet, at least — his ability to block and alter shots at the rim has already made him one of the best two-way players in the league. And he's still a rookie.

It's why even Durant knows Holmgren "has next" and is his heir apparent in OKC.

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