<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-isaiah-hartenstein-reveals-chet-holmgren-biggest-area-growth');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein reveals Chet Holmgren’s biggest area of growth');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-Isaiah-Hartenstein-1.jpg"><figcaption>DOUG HOKE/THEOKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein reveals Chet Holmgren’s biggest area of growth</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T14:53:13-07:00">October 28th, 2:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T14:53:13-07:00">October 28th, 2:53pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Four games into the 2025-26 regular season, Isaiah Hartenstein knows that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren’s production is a big reason the defending champion’s undefeated thus far. Ahead of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-alex-caruso-injury-updates-before-kings-clash">Holmgren’s first night off due to back soreness</a> amid the campaign’s first back-to-back, Hartenstein identified the specific growth he’s seen in Chet.</p><p>Hartenstein revealed he got a close-up look at Holmgren’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WjWytvGkO8" rel="noopener">gains during the offseason</a>, as we’re all seeing the fruits of Chet’s labor amid his first four regular-season games.</p><p>“His confidence, but also just playing through contact. I think that’s where he’s been a lot better in,” Hartenstein said. “I’ve been with him all summer, seen the work he put in with Drew Hanlen, and you’re kind of just seeing it right now. You’re seeing this confidence. You’re seeing what he’s been doing for our team, and he’s also just healthy, too. I think those two big keys — his confidence and him being healthy — he’s one of the best bigs in the league.”</p><p>Holmgren’s been stellar out of the gates, averaging 23.0 points on 56.9% shooting, including 41.7% from deep, 10.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Chet’s on pace for a standout campaign. Perhaps his breakout year, as all of the signs from his championship run throughout the playoffs last year to his extraordinary start to the regular season amid All-Star Jalen Williams’ recovery.</p><p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will go for a perfect 5-0 mark in Holmgren’s absence when they host the Sacramento Kings at the Paycom Center on Tuesday.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren ruled out for Thunder game vs. Kings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren_878ad8.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-reveals-dislocated-thumb-vs-hawks">Chet Holmgren dislocated his thumb against the Hawks</a>, he entered Monday’s game listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of facing the Mavericks. Holmgren was cleared to play hours before tip-off, which led most to believe he’d probably take the night off on the second night of a back-to-back. Holmgren also made Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg’s welcome to the NBA moment when he dunked on him in the second half.</p><p>In a 101-94 win against the Mavericks, he stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists. He also drained a pair of threes, as Holmgren is now 10-of-24 (42.1%) from behind the three-point arc.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein reveals Chet Holmgren’s biggest area of growth

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-alex-caruso-injury-updates-before-kings-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chet-Holmgren-7-looks-to-move-the-ball-past-Dallas-Mavericks-forward-Naji-Marshall-13.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T13:48:02-07:00">October 28th, 1:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T13:48:02-07:00">October 28th, 1:48pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder will be short one key starter but regain another as they return home for a three-game stretch beginning <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-mark-daigneault-keeps-100-cooper-flagg-2-point-performance">Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings</a>.</p><p>The team announced that center Chet Holmgren <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1983241036097798504" rel="noopener">has been ruled out</a> with low back soreness, while guard Alex Caruso has cleared concussion protocol and is available to play. The reigning NBA champions (4-0) are set to tip off against the Kings (1-2) at Paycom Center.</p><p>Holmgren last appeared in Monday night’s 101-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, where he posted another strong performance in his third NBA season. The 23-year-old finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free throw line across 32 minutes. He also recorded a team-high plus/minus of +15, continuing his consistent two-way production to start the season.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren sidelined, Alex Caruso returns as Thunder face Kings amid early-season injuries</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Alex-Caruso-9-and-forward-Chet-Holmgren-7-react-after-defeating-the-Indiana-Pacers.jpg"><figcaption>© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Through four games, Holmgren is averaging 23 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 56.9% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc in 34.3 minutes per contest. His efficiency and rim protection have been central to Oklahoma City’s undefeated start, but the team will now have to manage his workload carefully as they navigate a busy early schedule.</p><p>Caruso, meanwhile, returns after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-alex-caruso-sustains-concussion-nba-protocol">missing three straight games while in concussion protocol</a>. The 31-year-old veteran last played in Oklahoma City’s season opener — a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-sga-russell-westbrook-okc-record">125-124 double-overtime win over the Houston Rockets</a>. In that contest, he tallied eight points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block while shooting 3-for-9 from the field and 2-for-6 from three across 30 minutes.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-is-chet-holmgren-playing-vs-hawks-latest-injury-update">Thunder will still be without several key rotation players</a>. Isaiah Joe remains out with a left knee contusion, while Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery), Nikola Topic (post-surgical recovery), Kenrich Williams (left knee surgery), and Jalen Williams (right wrist surgery) continue their rehabilitations. Head coach Mark Daigneault has relied on Oklahoma City’s depth and defensive consistency to maintain momentum through the early portion of the season.</p><p>The Thunder will host the Kings at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso get mixed bag of injury updates before Kings clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-posterizes-cooper-flagg-for-savage-welcome-to-nba-moment');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren posterizes Cooper Flagg for savage ‘Welcome to NBA’ moment');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-center-Chet-Holmgren-7-drives-to-the-basket.jpg"><figcaption>© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren posterizes Cooper Flagg for savage ‘Welcome to NBA’ moment</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T19:54:43-07:00">October 27th, 7:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T19:54:43-07:00">October 27th, 7:54pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>No one is doubting the idea of Cooper Flagg being one of the best players in the NBA someday. But as a rookie for a Dallas Mavericks team in transition, he is bound to have plenty of growing pains. On Monday night, he was given a major welcome to the NBA moment by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-the-chet-holmgren-reason-that-victor-wembanyama-motivated-this-year">Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren</a>, who had no intention of taking it easy on one of the most hyped-up rookies of all-time.</p><p>Early on in the third quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was handling the ball, drawing two defenders in the process. Just as he felt PJ Washington leaning closer to him than his original man, Holmgren, the Thunder star threw the ball to Holmgren, who decided not to settle for a jumper, taking the ball straight to the hoop.</p><p>And with only Flagg providing resistance between Holmgren and the hoop, there was always going to be <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1982989211210027439" rel="noopener">one winner</a> — with the Thunder star putting the Mavericks rookie on a poster with a mean one-handed slam.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">CHET HOLMGREN PUTS COOPER FLAGG ON A POSTER 😱</p><p> <a href="https://t.co/LvjJT6gQg4">pic.twitter.com/LvjJT6gQg4</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1982989211210027439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-myles-turner-embarrasses-chet-holmgren-with-crucial-game-3-block">Holmgren has had his fair share of growing pains</a> as well through the years, and as one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA, he’s experienced plenty of similar plays as Flagg through the years. But now that he’s maturing with age and with championship experience, the Thunder big man appears to be figuring something out on offense.</p><p>The second overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft is coming off a game against the Atlanta Hawks in which he scored 31 points, hauled in 11 boards, and recorded three steals and a block. With Jalen Williams out, there is plenty of room for shots down the OKC pecking order. And it looks like Holmgren is making the most of his opportunity as the team’s undisputed second option on the offensive end.</p><h2><b>Thunder look to extend undefeated start to title defense</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0250.jpeg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-okc-opens-title-defense-with-ot-feat-not-seen-in-nba-history">Thunder were pushed to the brink</a> in their first two games of the season, with the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers pushing them to double overtime. OKC prevailed, with Gilgeous-Alexander flexing his dominance and looking like the MVP of the league in the process.</p><p>After taking care of business rather handily against the Atlanta Hawks, the Thunder find themselves in another close game, with the Mavericks putting the pressure on the reigning champion. At the time of writing, OKC is holding on to a slim three-point lead with around 22 seconds remaining in the contest.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren posterizes Cooper Flagg for savage ‘Welcome to NBA’ moment

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-the-chet-holmgren-reason-that-victor-wembanyama-motivated-this-year');   ga('set', 'title', 'The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Spurs-All-Star-Victor-Wembanyama-Thunder-s-Chet-Holmgren.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T14:21:30-07:00">October 27th, 2:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T14:21:30-07:00">October 27th, 2:21pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama watched Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren — the 2022 second overall pick of his same draft class — win his first championship last season. Fast forward through the first week of the 2025-26 campaign, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-news-victor-wembanyama-opening-week-nba-honor">Wembanyama is the Western Conference Player of the Week</a>. With a chip on his shoulder, and a 3-0 start to the season, Victor is poisitioned to have a signature year.</p><p>It’s the beginning of an impressive regular season, which ESPN’s Marc Spears reports is a byproduct of <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25266206-wemby-reportedly-motivated-chet-holmgren-winning-nba-title-thunder" rel="noopener">added motivation</a>, following Holmgren and the Thunder’s championship run last season, Spears said, per Bleacher Report.</p><p>“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” Spears said.</p><p>After a blood clot ended his season last year, Wembanyama’s been focused on leading the Spurs to the upper echelon of a competitive Western Conference in 2025-26. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/spurs-victor-wembanyama-explains-huge-leap-rookie-year">Wembanyama feels his game has reached new heights</a> since his rookie season. It’s what he think has led to <a href="https://twitter.com/HectorLedesmaTV/status/1981238699439640700" rel="noopener">such an impressive start</a>, he said, per Spurs reporter Hector Ledesma.</p><p>“I feel like it’s a mix of knowledge of the game, of recognition, of patterns on the court, and, obviously, physical development,” Wembanyama said. “If I could have been, if I was able to do that when I was 19 years old or 16 years old, whenever, I would have done it. I mean, I would have tried to do it,” the Spurs’ leading scorer for each of the last two seasons continued.</p><p>“But there’s some things that just take time, and I’m able to do it now. The proof is there, so there’s no reason to not do it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Off the heels of a performance that's got the sports world in awe, Wemby explains his continued ascension…</p><p>"The mix of knowledge, the game, recognition..<br>If I was able to do that when I was 19 years old…I would've done it…I'm able to do it now, proof is there…" ⬇️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Spurs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Spurs</a> <a href="https://t.co/tDDYSegYj2">pic.twitter.com/tDDYSegYj2</a></p><p>— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/HectorLedesmaTV/status/1981238699439640700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Three games into the regular season season, Chet Holmgren is averaging 33.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 6.0 blocks.</p><h2><b>Victor Wembanyama addresses his Spurs teammates</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Spurs-All-Star-Victor-Wembanyama-Thunder-s-Chet-Holmgren-2.jpg"><figcaption>Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama embraces the pressure that comes with being the No.1 overall pick, especially when you’re pegged to be the NBA’s next generational talent. For Wembanyama, it’s his responsibility to play at a high level for his team.</p><p>“I felt like I needed to make a statement to my teammates,” Wembanyama said. “It’s also just the beginning because there’s so much more I want to add to my game, but some things take time and maturity.”</p><p>The Spurs will look to go 4-0 when they face the Raptors on Monday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-upgraded-monday-game-mavericks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Thunder’s Chet Holmgren upgraded for Monday’s game vs Mavericks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-i-1.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Thunder’s Chet Holmgren upgraded for Monday’s game vs Mavericks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T13:37:05-07:00">October 27th, 1:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T13:37:05-07:00">October 27th, 1:37pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Oklahoma City Thunder forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-chet-holmgren-questionable-monday-game-mavericks">Chet Holmgren was listed as questionable for Monday’s game</a> against the Dallas Mavericks, he was upgraded to available. The starting big man will be in action for the Thunder’s final stop on their three-game road trip before returning home to the Paycom Center for the first time since Opening Night.</p><p>Holmgren, dealing with lingering <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-10-27_03PM.pdf" rel="noopener">lower back soreness</a>, has been cleared to play, as the Thunder announced on Monday afternoon. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-chet-holmgren-reveals-dislocated-thumb-vs-hawks">Holmgren suffered a dislocated thumb against the Hawks</a>. He exited the game during the second quarter but returned for the second half. Chet finished with 31 points on 8-of-12 attempts, including six threes, which ties his career-high. He also finished with 11 rebounds, three steals, and one block.</p><p>The shorthanded Thunder, playing without All-Star Jalen Williams, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, Kenrich Williams, and others, will look to go a perfect 4-0 as defending champions when they take on Anthony Davis, the No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, and the Mavericks on Monday.</p><h2><b>Chet Holmgren reveals dislocated thumb after Thunder win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thunder-forward-Chet-Holmgren-ii-1.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Thunder forward Chet Holmgren tried to contest a dunk from Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye and dislocated his thumb in the process in Saturday’s 17-point win. Holmgren jammed his thumb against the backboard while Gueye flushed the ball through the hoop. The Thunder big man headed toward the locker room but returned to the floor after halftime.</p><p>After the game, Holmgren revealed he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKq325eJoEA&amp;t=263s" rel="noopener">had dislocated his thumb</a> during his postgame media availability.</p><p>“We all know what happened — I got dunked on, dislocated my thumb at the same time,” Holmgren revealed. “It didn’t look too bad. Obviously, my thumb wasn’t where it was supposed to be. I see my thumb every day. It didn’t look like it normally does. But, it also didn’t look completely done for. So, I tried to tell them to just pop it back into place during the timeout because I was scared. I didn’t know what to do. But they said I had to go get X-rays — that’s why I went to the back.”</p><p>Holmgren is averaging 24.7 points on 56.1% shooting, including 42.1% from deep, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals through three games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
23.0	10.3	1.8	1.3	1.3

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
23.0	10.3	1.8	1.3	1.3

Chet Holmgren

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The Chet Holmgren reason that Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is so motivated this year

Thunder’s Chet Holmgren upgraded for Monday’s game vs Mavericks

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