Not far removed from throwing an eight-rejection block party at the Denver Nuggets’ house just a season ago, Chet Holmgren had just the idea of how to upgrade this year’s celebration: classic jams. Disciplined and well-armored upon absorbing the shoulder shivers of Nikola Jokić’s powerful 284-pound frame, the Oklahoma City Thunder star keeps his arms extended, ultimately meeting the three-time Most Valuable Player’s layup attempt with a swat. Lightening the mood of the now-muted Ball Arena, Holmgren, unguarded in his transition rim-run, takes an in-stride pass before powering through a jam that rivaled the sound of an early-July fireworks display. The second-year standout required little time in illustrating the many dimensions of his game, both previously-shown and newly-added, as he helped coordinate an early-season win over one of the Thunder’s prospective Western Conference foes on October 24, 2024. A dominant presence across the board, Holmgren lit up the statistical charts for 25 points (on 11-of-18 shooting), 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and four blocks. · Oct 25, 2024