What did Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic say about OKC’s Chet Holmgren and is he right?
While it may seem cheeky, the two-time MVP raised a valid point about the young center and one that should probably be taken seriously.
There is no substitute for experience in any professional league, least of all the NBA. On the other hand, there are other attributes and qualities that most definitely help, and one of them has certainly got to be size.
Nikola Jokic gives his 2 cents to Chet Holmgren
On Sunday, the reigning champion Denver Nuggets gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a solid beating in a game that ended 128-95. Now, while it was not the best outing for OKC, the team’s rookie center Chet Holmgren did in fact give a good account of himself, something that Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was quick to acknowledge post-game with a slight caveat. “He’s a really talented guy, but this is his first year,” Jokić said. “He’s still learning everything: the game, how quick it is, where is (he at) an advantage, where is [he at] a disadvantage. I think he needs experience. I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest. But yes, he has a talent that is unique.” To be fair, Jokic isn’t exactly wrong.
Standing at 7-foot-1, Holmgren’s lack of size has been an issue since he starred for Gonzaga and came under greater scrutiny when he was drafted last year at a weight of 195 pounds. Though it’s true he has since gained 13 pounds, he is, without a doubt, one of the thinnest big men in the NBA. Yes, the trade-off is that he has more flexibility than most who play his position, but as seen on Sunday night, he does not have the frame to deal with bulkier players, least of all Jokic who essentially manhandled him during their meeting on Sunday. In the end, Jokic finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists on 12-of-16 shooting from the field, including 8 of 11 in the restricted area. This is all to say, Holmgren could do little to stop him.
OK, but how did Chet Holmgren do?
It would be unfair to say that Holmgren didn’t have a solid shift. After all, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft ended up with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, however, his defensive contribution was a far cry from the seven blocks that he registered in OKC’s win against the Cleveland Cavaliers a few days ago.
At this point, it remains clear that the 21-year-old is as talented as they come, but equally so is the fact that he will continue to struggle against bulkier players until he himself can put on some size.