Chet Holmgren is a 20-year-old basketball player in the 2022 NBA Draft with a lot of public doubts surrounding his physical aspect and potential to have longevity in the league.
His 7-foot frame and above-average shooting ability should be more than enough to generate interest from any NBA franchise and it also doesn’t help that the draft class of 2022 is filled with immense talent.
Paolo Banchero will likely by the No. 1 pick as he has an NBA-ready body and is a player who will instantly help the Orlando Magic become a better team.
Holmgren, on the other hand, will need a couple more years to grow into his “man body” before he can impact winning on a professional level.
Chet Holmgren vs. Steph Curry
In 2019, Holmgren garnered national attention after crossing over Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry SC30 Select Camp.
The Minnesota native went on to play college basketball at Gonzaga for one season, helping the Division I program reach the Sweet 16 in the 2022 March Madness tournament.
As a freshman, Holmgren averaged 14.1 points9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game before deciding to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Chet Holmgren, the new Kevin Durant
Comparing incoming rookies to certified NBA superstars is a dangerous path to walk down, but Holmgren has a lot of the similar setbacks that Kevin Durant has when he entered the league.
Durant never really gained a significant amount of muscle throughout his career and has still managed to find success in the NBA with his skillset.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a different example of what could happen with Holmgren’s career.
The physique of the Greek Freak at 20-years-old was a shadow of what he is now after years of putting in countless hours at the gym.
Holmgren certainly has a vast amount of room for improvement when it comes to his body but the rest of his basketball traits are undoubtedly up to par.
With that being said, the Oklahoma City Thunder could select Holmgren at No. 2 if they agree with the comparison to Durant, a franchise legend.
Even though the term “Unicorn” is overused when it comes to basketball players, Holmgren is the epitomy of a stretch big in the NBA and teams who pass him up in the draft might be making a huge mistake.
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