The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off their first NBA Finals championship since moving out of Seattle. To begin this season, the Thunder have picked up right where they left off. Oklahoma City opened the year with two straight double-overtime victories, followed by two regulation wins on the road.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP, and he is off to another MVP-type start. SGA is averaging 35.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game this year. However, he has not done it alone. Chet Holmgren is averaging 23.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game through the first four games.
After four hard-fought games, Holmgren’s body is feeling the fatigue. The Thunder play host to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, but they will be without Holmgren to help keep the win streak going.
Per James Ham of ESPN, Holmgren will miss Tuesday’s game with a sore back.
Chet Holmgren’s Injury History
GettyChet Holmgren will miss Tuesday’s game against the Kings with back soreness.
Holmgren’s sore back would usually not be an issue. However, given his injury history, it could be a reason for concern.
To begin his career, Holmgren broke his foot, sidelining him for the entirety of his rookie year. The 23-year-old played a full 82 games in 2023/24, but a hip injury limited him to 39 games last year. Despite his limited regular-season action, Holmgren was a full participant in the postseason Finals run.
Now, the 7-foot-1 big man is out with back soreness. He missed two games in April with a back ailment, so this is nothing new for him. However, the Thunder will want to make sure it is only soreness and nothing more.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma City plays two more times this week after Tuesday. Additionally, they spend all of next week on the road. Having Holmgren healthy should be the priority for Mark Daigneault and the Thunder moving forward.
Other Thunder Injuries
GettyJalen Williams remains out after undergoing wrist surgery.
Holmgren is a notable absence, but a few key players have yet to make their season debut.
Jalen Williams was an integral part of the championship team from last year. He averaged 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the playoffs last year. During the summer, Williams underwent surgery on his right wrist, which has kept him out of action.
Nikola Topic is still out after having testicular surgery in early October. He was the 12th overall pick in 2024, but missed all of his rookie season due to ACL surgery. The Thunder are patiently awaiting his NBA debut, but they will have to wait a few weeks longer.
Both Isaiah Joe and Kenrich Williams have been out, as well. These two players are a little bit less impactful. But both averaged over 15 minutes played per game last season. Oklahoma City will happily accept them back on the court when they are ready to return.
Despite the injuries, the Thunder are still one of the best teams in the NBA. As long as SGA remains healthy, they should not miss a beat.
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