How tall is Chet Holmgren and how much does he weigh?
It wasn’t the best start to life for the former Gonzaga Bulldog, but now that he’s been cleared to play after tearing ligaments, it’s time to get to know him.
The Orlando Magic had the number one pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and according to most predictions, former Gonzaga Bulldogs center Chet Holmgren was likely to be the player who went first. Ultimately, he was selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Holmgren for Thunder
Though he only played one season in the NCAA, Chet Holmgren picked up a number of awards including WCC Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year, and with that, it wasn’t long before his extraordinary physical attributes had NBA scouts rubbing their hands together in anticipation of what many considered to be a generational talent that the NBA hasn’t seen in years.
As noted in our rundown of the 10 finest prospects in last year’s NBA Draft: “Holmgren’s physique appears to be his only Achilles heel. The 20-year-old weighs just 195lbs despite being 7ft tall. Indeed, some might argue that this is precisely why his 2022-23 campaign ended before it even started due to torn ligaments in his foot, but that’s up for debate. Regardless, nobody can question his ability. Thanks to his mobility, intelligence, and competitive edge, not to mention his tremendous arm length, he is a Defensive Player of the Year in the making. In offense, he’s a good shooter from range, he has the ability to find colleagues in advantageous positions, and is most certainly a team player; he isn’t only in it to make himself look good.
Holmgren a rare physical presence
Holmgren’s height lends him a standout impressive defensive presence, which benefits from his 7′6″ wingspan. In his one year at Gonzaga, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and .607 field goal percentage.
As noted by nbadraft.net, Holmgren is “one of the rarest of players to come along in years … His combination of shooting, passing, shot-blocking and speed and agility along with feel for the game is truly special. His upside is sky high, but questions linger about how his body will develop and how he will be able to handle the rigors of an NBA season as a post player with such an obvious weakness to his game… For a team that feels they can bulk him up sufficiently, he presents the ultimate swing for the fences pick in this year’s draft.” At this point, we have already seen Victor Wenbanyama enter the league in this year’s NBA Draft and it goes without saying that the comparisons will be constant given the frame and physique of both players. On the other hand, one gets the feeling that aside from physical attributes, there is really no comparison. This coming NBA season is going to be interesting. Watch this space.