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Paul Pierce believes the OKC Thunder have another player like Scottie Pippen besides Jalen Williams

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Bergas Agung | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 9:30 PM ET

Chet Holmgren might not receive top billing for Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship success.

The spotlight typically shines on MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, second star Jalen Williams, or role players like Alex Caruso.

However, NBA legend Paul Pierce recently delivered high praise for the versatile big man. The former champion made a comparison that perfectly captures Chet Holmgren’s unique value to the Thunder.

Pierce believes Holmgren serves the same role for Oklahoma City that Scottie Pippen played for the Chicago Bulls dynasty. The comparison highlights how complementary stars can maximize championship teams.

Pierce sees Holmgren as Thunder’s perfect complementary superstar

The Celtics legend explained how Holmgren mirrors Pippen’s impact on winning basketball. Both players excel at doing whatever their team needs without demanding the spotlight.

“When you look at OKC’s foundation, they didn’t lay the cement, the bricks, it’s solid. Think about it, they got two all-stars on a rookie deal. Chet wasn’t an all-star, but he going to be an all-star,” Pierce explained.

Pierce emphasized Holmgren’s complete skill set and basketball IQ. “Chet, he like Scottie Pippen for them. He just do a little bit of everything for them. Straight up, he defend, he rebound, he like the intangibles but he can do more. He understands his role,” he added.

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Holmgren could explode into 20-10 machine with expanded role

Pierce believes Holmgren’s numbers would skyrocket if he became Oklahoma City’s clear second option. The young center averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, and 2.2 blocks last season while playing third fiddle.

“He can be a 20-10 guy. If you didn’t have J-Dub, Chet would be a 22 and 10 player. He even [averaged] 15 [points] and eight [rebounds] as a third option,” Pierce projected.

Holmgren demonstrated his trajectory for improvement from his rookie to sophomore season. He set an NBA Finals record with five total blocks during the championship series.

Health remains only question mark for Holmgren’s superstar potential

Former NBA player JR Smith previously compared Holmgren to Kevin Durant, suggesting he could make Oklahoma City even more dangerous.

The Kevin Durant comparison speaks to Holmgren’s unique combination of size and skill, while the role and the usage showed they both are different.

However, durability concerns persist after Holmgren played only 32 regular season games last season. Staying healthy will determine whether he reaches the Pippen or Durant ceiling that NBA legends envision.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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