Thunder provide encouraging update regarding key player

The Oklahoma City Thunder revealed some positive news about one of their star players on Friday.

The team announced that power forward Chet Holmgren will be re-evaluated in three to five weeks as he continues to recover from a right iliac wing fracture, which is a fracture on the right side of his pelvis. His initial timeline was eight to 10 weeks.

Holmgren suffered the injury in a 127-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 10 after a collision with Warriors small forward Andrew Wiggins in the first quarter.

According to Thunder Wire managing editor Clemente Almanza, head coach Mark Daigneault said Holmgren is "working hard" and "progressing" as he recovers from his injury.

After being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren did not play his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury. He played every game last season and averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and shot an efficient 53% from the floor. In his first nine games this season prior to the injury, Holmgren has had four games with 20 or more points and recorded four double-doubles. 

The Thunder won their first seven games and eight of their first nine with Holmgren before the setback occurred against Golden State. After a commanding 134-114 win over the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Oklahoma City is 34-6 and atop the Western Conference.

While point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.6 PPG) and forward Jalen Williams (20.6 PPG) continue to carry the Thunder, Holmgren's 16.4 PPG only trail those two players on the team. If the Thunder continue to take care of business until Holmgren returns, this team may still have another level they are capable of reaching assuming he picks up where he left off before the injury.