Heading into the high-pressure Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs , Oklahoma City Thunder fans knew it would be unrealistic to expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to carry the team entirely on his back.
They also needed Chet Holmgren , who wasn't even the most impactful big man over Isaiah Hartenstein for the team thus far, to step up. Especially after Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell , two main shot creators after SGA, went down with injuries.
Instead, Holmgren delivered his most disappointing performance of the season in the series finale, clearly looking intimidated under the bright winner-takes-all lights.
His lack of aggression on the offensive end left many inside the arena stunned, including Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller , who could not hide his frustration while calling the game live.
"I mean, he hasn't even attempted a shot in this second half?" the Hall of Famer said on the live broadcast. "You've got to be kidding me."
Through the first six games of the Western Conference Finals, Chet had failed to attain his regular-season scoring average of 17.1 points in every game. Moreover, in four of those six games, he also registered a negative plus/minus rating.
Still, many believed that the player who earned an All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team nod this campaign would show up when it mattered the most.
Unfortunately, that never happened.
In 33 minutes of action, the Gonzaga stud recorded two steals and two blocks, also having two turnovers and just one made field goal.
More concerning was the way he approached the game, attempting merely two field goals - both of which came in the first half of the first quarter.
As a result, OKC lost Game 7 at home - a contest in which they overturned a 14-point first-half deficit and led by as many as four points. That reality makes Holmgren's offensive disappearance even more glaring. Had he contributed more than four points and four rebounds, the defending champions could have survived and progressed further.
On one hand, role players like Cason Wallace dropped 14 points alone in the fourth quarter, while Shai Gilgeous-Aleander dropped a game-high 35 points, but when the situation demanded, Holmgren faltered.
To the Thunder's credit, it has already demonstrated tremendous faith in Chet, as his five-year, $239 million extension is set to begin this summer. Yet when the organization needed him the most, Holmgren once again struggled against his kryptonite, Victor Wembanyama.
Whether Chet wants to acknowledge it or not, Wemby continues to elevate his game when he's facing him or the Thunder, as evidenced by the 7'4" French phenom capturing the WCFs MVP award after averaging 27.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in this series.
So, witnessing polar opposite efforts from these two big men, not only Reggie Miller but former NBA champ Jason Williams was also astonished to see Chet's performance on Saturday night.
So, now that OKC's campaign has come to an end, it's time for Holmgren to pull up his socks and contemplate how to approach the next chapter of his career.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
