From Tough Loss to Preseason Grit: Is Chet Holmgren Primed for a Breakout?
By Chloe Bennett
Daigneault's offensive and defensive structures have evolved alongside Holmgren's skillset. In previous seasons, Oklahoma City relied on five-out spacing where Holmgren operated primarily as a trailer or pick-and-pop release valve for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. While effective during the regular season, that alignment sometimes left the Thunder thin on the offensive glass when outside shots went cold.
During September training camp drills, the Thunder showed new frontcourt wrinkles. Holmgren operated far more frequently out of the mid-post, catching entry passes with his back to the basket before using step-through footwork to generate paint touches. His playmaking vision from the elbows creates passing lanes for cutting wings, giving Oklahoma City an alternative release against defenses that load up against Gilgeous-Alexander’s drives. Defensively, the coaching staff is deploying Holmgren more as a roamer, utilizing hybrid zone schemes that keep him near the paint rather than pulling him thirty feet out onto the perimeter.
This tactical flexibility reduces wear and tear over an 82-game schedule. Instead of taking the brunt of direct post-ups on every possession, Holmgren can leverage his 7-foot-6 wingspan to erase defensive breakdowns as a secondary rim protector. That structural shift directly addresses the fatigue issues that slowed his production during the later stages of the 2026 playoffs.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
