The benefits of being 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan have elevated Chet Holmgren to remarkable heights since arriving to the Association, and with the opportunity at a championship in Year Two within reach, they certainly didn’t let him down. Almost unfair in terms of his ability to defend both perimeter and interior, Holmgren leaves it for the nationally-televised audience to enjoy, shadowing T.J. McConnell’s persistent, maze-like dribble before rotating over to Aaron Nesmith. Barricading the baseline and padlocking the rim at once, Holmgren collects a good ‘ol fashioned “not in my house,” denying a layup to bring the Oklahoma City Thunder one possession closer to the NBA championship. Nine minutes later, the reward was theirs, as they overcame the Indiana Pacers to become league history’s youngest champion since 1977. Just as superb individually on June 22, 2025, Holmgren tallied 18 points (on just eight attempts), alongside eight rebounds, one steal, one 3-pointer, and five swats, the most ever by a player in a Game Seven. · Jun 22, 2025