Thunder big man Chet Holmgren admits that spending an entire season rehabbing a foot injury was tough, as he told Sam Yip of Hoops Hype.
“Anything like that is gonna be challenging for anybody, but I feel like I’ve stayed the course really well, and I didn’t let my focus, attention to detail or confidence waver,” he said. “It was a challenging year, but I feel like I made the most out of it.”
Holmgren could battle Victor Wembanyama and the rest of the 2023 rookie class for the Rookie of the Year award, since he sat out last season. However, he’s only interested in team goals.
“My focus is on helping this team win games,” he said. “Things like Rookie of the Year, and everything else are not important, so I’m just focused on helping the team. Everything else follows the team’s success.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Despite all the assets that Thunder executive Sam Presti has hoarded in recent years, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman doubts he’ll cash a bunch of them in to land a star. Mussatto believes OKC will most likely focus on retaining Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Holmgren on rookie scale extensions when they’re eligible, as the team did with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
- The Timberwolves have named Ernest Scott as head coach of the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League affiliate, according to a team press release. Nathan Bubes has been named an assistant coach for Iowa, while Michael DiBenedetto will have to dual title of assistant coach and director of operations for the G League team. Scott replaces Jeff Newton, who was previously promoted to assistant coach/quality control coach for the NBA team.
- Kris Dunn could begin the season in the Jazz‘s starting lineup, Sarah Todd of the Deseret News opines. Todd views Dunn as Utah’s best point guard. However, with Talen Horton-Tucker, Collin Sexton and rookie Keyonte George also in the mix, head coach Will Hardy could go a number of different ways with that key position. Dunn signed a multi-year contract with the Jazz in March.
Before Summer League, I agree that Dunn is the best PG. After seeing Keyonte in action, I could see him being the starting PG at some point.
Keyonte still needs to learn the offensive sets and defensive schemes, learn his new teammates’ tendencies, and then how to read NBA defenses, and opposing players’ tells, etc.
Sexton will likely get priority off the bench. His change of pace style will be great for a 6th man role. He passes well enough that he could play either guard position. The other guard will likely depend on matchups.
THT is the wildcard on this roster. He clearly has shown the Jazz that he’s capable of being a starter, when needed. If he can show that he plans ahead more with his passes, then I think he’ll get more minutes with this year’s team. Of course, injuries could dramatically increase that for him and the other guards still healthy.
If I had to guess, I would think Dunn starts with Clarkson as the other guard. Sexton and Ochai will likely be their bench counterparts unless the Jazz want two ball-handlers on the floor at the same time, with THT instead of Ochai.
Keyonte will likely be brought along slowly until the trade deadline. The Jazz will likely make a trade or two by then and that’ll likely greenlight Keyonte. At least, that’s what they did with Kessler.
I agree with all of this. I was thoroughly surprised by THT’s growth last year. It’s way to early to put Handy on a pedestal but he is to me maybe a top 8 coach right now. Probably even a little higher, imo but I know that’s jumping the gun.
Clarkson knows how to play the role. Tht was showing he could play it and Dunn is just as capable but with better defense. Clarkson has better shooting. Tht and Dunn excel with defense.
Sexton really can play off the ball or even as a 6th man. He can score it.
We have no idea at how kg will mesh with the starters.
This whole team needs more experience with each other but the depth is there. Chemistry takes some time.
What’s funny is ko can pass it around. Good chance they trade ko as he is older.
Clarkson could become trade bait because teams will ask and pay atleast a pick or two.
Will see how the season starts because other teams need to test their rosters and theories of what works or not.
If jazz get off to a good start then hurray … if not then they will focus on playing guys with expiring contracts to move them.
Injuries will be a factor on how it goes but optimistic for the jazz. Good solid core and nice young talent looking to make a splash
Clarkson isn’t a point guard. He tends to force things sometimes. Likely from a lack of practice being a point guard.
The Jazz drafted Keyonte as the kind point guard they want to see, which really adds to their continued mantra: Can he shoot, dribble, and pass? In that sense, the Jazz have really sounded like they want position-less basketball.
That’s taking time to fully realize that goal. Until then, they go with the best player available. Dunn, to me, has the best defense, and best passing of the bunch. He’s also the most under control = fewer turnovers.
Dunn is their best PG?
Did he really do that well last year for them?
They have enough ball handlers to share the load I guess…
13/5/6 on 54/47/78 shooting with quality defense and a near 3/1 AST/TOV ratio, so yes. If he comes anywhere close to that, he’ll be a quality guard for them.
The Jazz don’t rely on a PG like they have in the past. Everyone can bring the ball up the floor, except maybe Kessler and Turtseven. Not sure where their ball handling is currently. Instead, the PG primarily should be a defensive stopper and a halfcourt initiator. But ideally everyone should be active in the offense and move the ball.