Bleacher Report recently dropped its predictions for five players most likely to earn their first NBA All-Star nod in the 2025â26 season, and headlining the list was Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren.
Itâs a bold but logical pick, considering the unique position Holmgren finds himself in entering his third full season.
Heâs already an NBA champion. Heâs already proven he can be a defensive anchor. Now, with added responsibility in Oklahoma Cityâs offense, he may finally punch his ticket to Indianapolis as an All-Star.
From Durable Rookie to Shortened Sophomore Year
Holmgrenâs career arc has been anything but ordinary.
After missing his true rookie season with a foot injury, the 7-foot-1 big man played all 82 games in 2023â24, averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 53 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep.
His 2.3 blocks per game ranked fifth in the league, a number that helped secure his reputation as one of the NBAâs most promising rim protectors.
But 2024â25 told a different story. Holmgren appeared in just 32 games during the Thunderâs championship run, battling through injury and inconsistent availability.
He played all 23 games in the postseason and contributed 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and nearly two blocks per game.
Still, efficiency proved to be an issue as he shot just 46.2 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three, a reminder that his offensive game remains a work in progress.
Opportunity in Oklahoma City
The timing could not be better for a breakout.
With All-Star forward Jalen Williams sidelined to begin the season after tearing a ligament in his right wrist, Holmgren is expected to slide into the Thunderâs second scoring role behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That shift alone could swing his averages from promising young contributor to All-Star lock.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report pointed out that Holmgrenâs blend of rim protection, stretch shooting, and growing offensive confidence is tailor-made for this moment.
If he pushes his scoring average north of 20 points per game while maintaining his defensive impact, his All-Star résumé will be impossible to ignore.
Numbers and National Attention
Basketball Referenceâs 2025â26 per-36 projections already read like an All-Star ballot: 20.2 points, 10 rebounds, nearly 3 blocks per game, 52 percent from the field, and 38 percent from three.
On paper, thatâs a double-double machine with elite shot-blocking efficiencyâa package voters rarely leave off.
Add in the spotlight. Oklahoma City is slated for 34 nationally televised games this season, tied for the most in the NBA. Votersâfans, media, and coaches alikeâwill see Holmgrenâs growth up close.
Narrative matters in All-Star campaigns, and playing for the defending champions with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at his side gives Holmgren the kind of exposure few young bigs enjoy.
The Competition Out West
Of course, the Western Conference frontcourt is no soft landing spot. Nikola JokiÄ, Anthony Davis, Alperen Åengün, and Domantas Sabonis are perennial names on the ballot.
Holmgren will need to not only post big numbers but also maintain the defensive consistency that already makes him an All-Defensive candidate.
Still, the stars may be aligning. Holmgrenâs expanded role, combined with OKCâs winning profile and national platform, gives him as strong a case as any young player in the league.
If the projections come true and Holmgren adds a reliable 20-and-10 line with elite defense, his All-Star debut in February may feel less like a surprise and more like an inevitability.
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