Thunder big man Chet Holmgren has been diagnosed with a right iliac wing fracture after taking a hard fall during the first quarter of the team’s loss to Golden State on Sunday (video link), Oklahoma City announced in a press release (Twitter link via Rylan Stiles of SI.com). An iliac wing fracture is a form of pelvic fracture.
While the Thunder say Holmgren is expected to return to action later in the 2024/25 season, he’ll be out for an extended period. The plan is to reevaluate him in eight-to-10 weeks, per the club.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Holmgren missed his entire rookie season due to a foot injury, then appeared in all 82 regular season games in 2023/24.
“Can’t tell if I feel better or worse about this, having been through something similar before,” Holmgren wrote on Twitter. “On one hand I know how to approach it, I know what to do, what not to do and how beautiful the other side is. But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the wear it puts on your mind.
“Most of all I’m hurt I can’t help my teammates and play for our fans and supporters for a while. Everyone who sticks with me and our team, along with my need for hoops, is a big part of my passion to return. Don’t pity me or feel bad, there’s lots of people out there right now with real problems that don’t heal.”
Holmgren’s injury is a tough blow to a Thunder team that entered the season as the favorite to be the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed and had lived up to expectations this fall, winning eight of its first nine games before falling to the Warriors on Sunday.
Holmgren, last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up, had been a key part of that early success, averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game across nine outings, with a .519/.400/.776 shooting line.
The Thunder signed center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency over the summer to bolster their frontcourt and help out Holmgren in the middle, but Hartenstein has been sidelined in recent weeks with an injury of his own, having fractured his left hand during the preseason.
Oklahoma City announced nearly four weeks ago that Hartenstein would be reevaluated in five-to-six weeks, so that exam will happen soon. While there’s no indication yet that his return is imminent, it sounds like he should be back on the court well before Holmgren is.
The Thunder have also been waiting on big man Jaylin Williams, who went down with a hamstring strain nearly two weeks ago. He’s expected to remain sidelined for a few more weeks.
Until the Thunder gets Hartenstein and Williams back, the team will have to rely on smaller lineups, as it did on Sunday after Holmgren’s exit. Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe opened the second half alongside usual starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and Jalen Williams. Ousmane Dieng, a 6’10” forward, is also a candidate for an increased role.
“This is a resilient, tough, competitive, adaptive team,” head coach Mark Daigneault said after the game, per The Athletic. “And that’s what we’re gonna be regardless of the circumstance.”
It’s worth noting that rookie forward Malevy Leons is currently occupying the Thunder’s 15th roster spot on a non-guaranteed deal. If the team wants to bring in a veteran center on a temporary basis, he’d be the most likely release candidate. As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype points out (via Twitter), 13-year vet Bismack Biyombo – who spent part of last season in OKC, is among the top options available in free agency.
With his frame, you wouldn’t think he’d be prone to injury, would you?
You can say the same ab wemby
Add Durant, and Greg Oden Who?
You could if you wanted to!
But you could also look at the two and easily see Holmgren’s frame looks more frail than Wemby’s.
Whether you’d want to admit that or not is also up to you.
Wemby did add a little more weight this year. Chet was real late on the close out and fell awkward. In the future he will not expose his body like that to a injury just a rookie mistake trying to do too much.
Holmgren put on 13 pounds during the off season. Wembanyama put on 25. It’s not about their builds though. If anything on that play if he weighed more the fall could’ve done more damage. If you watch Holmgren play he is everywhere on defense. I’ve seen him switch on to 3 guys, get drug out to the perimeter and challenge another player at the rim. If he put on too much weight at once he wouldn’t be nearly as effective. He needs to find a balance between flying all over the half court on defense and still be effective.
This injury obviously hurts the Thunder but it’s more than you may realize. The reason they create so many turnovers and deflections is because the other defenders can play more loosely. Holmgren covers so much ground. Giannis and Wembanyama are the only guys I can think of that can do what he does on defense. He’s the difference between a 50-55 win season and a 60-65 win season.
Taco , agreed that Chet is a tremendous defender, but it’s no coincidence he’s had two devastating skeletal injuries in a two year span. His bone structure, like Sean Bradley’s before him, dictate that he is significantly more vulnerable to fracture. Adding soft tissue won’t change that.
It’s about bone density. The thinner your bones, the more likely a fracture. Taller people tend to have thinner, less dense bones. That’s why the older you get, the more breaks you get.
Another medical fact: the longer the bones, the more likely a fracture. Physics dictates that longer bones are more susceptible to bending forces. The forces on the bones on impact are greater due to increased leverage.
Are you a doctor? Have you examined Holmgren?
Yes, and not necessary to make these assertions.
You are on the Medical Staff of the Oklahoma City Thunder and are making these assertions about Holmgren? They haven’t fired you.
Giants74 , getting a little personal, no? (I’ve never claimed to be involved with Chet Holmgren’s medical treatment, as you indicate.)
An in-person examination isn’t required to read the formal diagnosis in a public disclosure of medical information, which OKC and Holmgren authorized on the foot procedure. (Look for yourself.)
That report details a Lisfranc injury, caused by forceful twisting of the midfoot. The injury is endemic to basketball players, especially women, with long slender feet and long bones. There’s plenty of literature for the layman describing why tall people are prone to metatarsal fractures (see, esp the “Jones” fracture), which KD, Bill Walton, James Edward’s, etc have had.
You understand all this only shows your inadequacies. True genius
Holmgren is definitely thinner, with thinner bones, than Wemby and, especially, Durant.
Two bad skeletal injuries in his first 3 years. He’s eligible for a rookie extension at the end of this (his third) season. Is there a team willing to give him the long-term contract?
The Thunder will and should give Holmgren whatever they can. Any other team would as well.
Taco , But what does “whatever they can” mean? Sadly or not, sports is a business. A players’ projected future availability is a critical consideration.
If Holmgren’s injury history prevents teams from offering him a long-term deal, the worst case is that he walks away with the $50M he earned over his first 4 years.
That is a terrible take. His 1st injury had nothing to do with his physical makeup. It was caused by a bad playing surface. Anyone could have received that injury. Are you a doctor? Have you examined him?
Giants74 said:
> His 1st injury had nothing to do with his physical
>!makeup. It was caused by a bad playing surface.
Incorrect, and provably so. link to youtu.be
I assume you’re claiming the floor was slippery, but the Lisfranc injury is caused when the foot is firmly planted, and rotational force causes dislocation in the midfoot.
Wow, you’ve seen Holmgren’s bones?
Even better. I read the medical report.
Possibly a Vucevic trade here?
Nikola Topic and Kenrich Williams + a pick for Vucevic and THT?
Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams will be back before too long. Can’t see them going out and getting a Vucevic level player at this point. At best, it’ll be a Larry Nance, Richaun Holmes sort of guy.
Holmes wouldn’t be a bad choice IMO. I agree with you with Vucevic. I’m just a hopeful sad Bulls fan lmao.
Raz , OKC needs to stay under the cap, so Vucevic at over $20M/yr is out.
Chet’s injury exposes the need for a durable, defense-first back-up C to keep them in the race and play behind Hartenstein for the next couple of years. It’ll cost significant draft capital.
OKC could use some of its FRP’s to land an affordable quality young C in their 2nd or 3rd season. Utah’s Walker Kessler or Charlotte’s Mark Williams would give OKC a couple of seasons at $4M/yr, and could be had for a couple of lightly protected firsts and a quality OKC bench player.
Walker Kessler is an interesting name to throw out there. Mark Williams is having injury issues, I’d stay away from him right now. What about Brook Lopez at the deadline? He’s a FA at the end of the year and won’t hurt their cap, they have plenty of 1st incoming soon so they can possibly get Lopez for a nice price.
I don’t think they’ll give up too much draft capital to pick up what would be eventually a 3rd or 4th big. Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams will be back soon. They might sign Biyombo as a deep bench guy. He’s played there before.
Kessler is a good idea honestly. I think that is a perfect idea
Don’t know if they have a C in G-league. But there isn’t one on the roster now. IHart won’t be back anytime soon. OKC has to sign a big or trade for one. Chet was playing this yr. I have always said he needs girth. Get well player ……
Muscle strengthens the body. It protects your bones and ligaments. Chet should have been on a weight and strengthening program since college. His dad who played ball. Should have made sure of that.
This is worth watching. Cause Thunder still have plenty picks. Me I go out and get a C.
OKC is in trouble now. Might have to trade for a C if they want to compete this yr.
Hartenstein should be back in 2-3 weeks, he is supposed to be reevaluated around Nov. 21st. Jaylin Williams is also due to return soon and Holmgren should be back in time to ramp up for the playoffs.
The Thunder said Holmgren put on 13 pounds of muscle this off season, so they’re already working on that. This was an impact injury though. He had 200+ pounds land his leg and hip. His hands couldn’t get into a position to break the fall.
Williams not a C. And there are no other real bigs On roster. IHart even if it’s 2-3 wks. Still more wks for gm shape. Then you don’t want to rush him either.
Thunder haven’t proven anything yet. This was suppose to be the yr for that. Like I said the weight training should have started long ago.
No centers want to hit the ground. Hitting the ground is dangerous for a seven footer. Especially when you add velocity and force to it. The physicality of this gm. Is something most don’t understand. Any big as talented as Chet. Has to have the muscle and girth to go with it.
Kareem in his best days was at 250 lbs. In a more physical age. He lasted cause he wasn’t a real physical player. And in those days. You always had a physical PF who protected your Center.
You look at KP. He still hasn’t gained enough weight imo. But now he stays out the paint. And if he couldn’t shoot. He’d probably be out the L. Chet at 207 lbs will never last.
IDK, you’d have to talk to Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby about how tall, skinny and physical players can’t play in the league.
I just gave you the best example ever in Kareem.
Wallace was soft. Even in college. Chet isn’t soft. That is why he’s out. And you should look up Cambys weight. You know why Centers are different. Their center of gravity is different. And today Centers that move like Chet. Are more susceptible to injury, especially if they don’t have the weight. 207 lbs is insane for a 7’ 1” center.
I don’t need to look up Camby’s weight. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Knicks and Camby was one of my favorite non star players. He was 6’11” and 220 pounds. Wallace was a little soft on offense because he like to shoot too much but he was anything but soft on defense. The dude took it personally if you moved him an inch. He’d relentlessly body guys up on defense.
Giants74 , getting a little personal, no? (I’ve never claimed to be involved with Chet Holmgren’s medical treatment, as you indicate.)
An in-person examination isn’t required to read the formal diagnosis in the “public disclosure of medical information”, which OKC and Holmgren authorized on the foot procedure. It details a Lisfranc injury, caused by forceful twisting of the midfoot. It’s endemic to basketball players, especially women, with long slender feet and long bones. There’s plenty of literature for the layman describing why tall people are prone to metatarsal fractures (see, esp the “Jones” fracture), which KD, Bill Walton, James Edward’s, etc have had.
Waive Leons, promote their 2nd rd pick and sign Jamarion Sharpe on a two way
I was waiting for someone else to say it but wtf was Holmgren doing that made his legs fly out from under him? Not being weird just genuinely curious
No self awareness like all the kids today