The Thunder started their season 2-0 but fell to their first loss of the year at the hands of the defending champions. The game gave us an intriguing matchup between two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and one of the favorites for Rookie of the Year Chet Holmgren. Even though Jokic got the better of the rookie, he left by giving Chet some important advice he has likely received from family and coaches about adding weight.
“He’s a really talented guy, but this is his first year. He’s still learning everything… I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest. But yes, he has a talent that is unique.”
Nikola Jokic on Chet Holmgren:
“He’s a really talented guy, but this is his first year. He’s still learning everything. … I think he needs experience. I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest.”https://t.co/rSoFsYs2UF
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) October 29, 2023
Chet had held his own against Jokic, ending the night with 19 points. However, he couldn’t rebound against Jokic, grabbing just four. He also couldn’t really guard Jokic despite his defensive expertise. The reigning Finals MVP put up 28 points on 12/15 shooting while grabbing 14 rebounds in a dominant effort.
Holmgren saw his lead guards disappear, as Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander combined for 16 points in one of their worst performances as a backcourt. The team has fallen to 2-1 in the regular season and will still likely give other playoff contenders a run for their money.
Chet Holmgren Will Not Artificially Add Muscle Or Weight
Chet Holmgren doesn’t think he needs to rush to the gym and start lifting the heaviest weights possible to get jacked. However, he needs to have a specific game plan in gaining this weight that doesn’t negatively affect his abilities as a hooper, especially shooting. Due to these factors, Holmgren would rather grow into his frame over the next few seasons instead of focusing on getting there ASAP.
“It’s not just about being big. There’s so much into the game now. You have to be able to move still and do so many different things. It’s not necessarily about gaining weight. It’s really just trying to work on my body — stronger, more athletic… Really, the weight kinda comes with it as you add some muscle and get older, you always add weight. But I don’t want to add the wrong weight, just get some big broad shoulders and now I’m moving slow, can’t move (and) my knees hurt. The focus has been working on my body all around and how it plays into my game.”
Holmgren will battle injuries in one way or the other for most of his career if he plays with such a thin frame. Even Kristaps Porzingis saw his health and availability improve after shedding weight and he’s currently balling out in Boston. Nikola Jokic won consecutive MVPs after losing a lot of weight over the offseason of 2020.
Chet Holmgren And Victor Wembanyama Weigh Less Than Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal revealed that he weighed 415 pounds in the 2002 Playoffs and led the Lakers to complete their three-peat that year. However, both Chet and Victor Wembanyama weigh 405 pounds combined based on their rookie data.
Shaq clearly doesn’t respect NBA players with this build, comparing Wembanyama to chicken soup because of how easy it would be to cook him.
“I think people better watch out, but if this was our era, bang him, he’d be chicken noodle soup, which I kind of like.”
In an era of skinny centers that can dribble and shoot like guards, it’d be interesting to see how the NBA would expect those same guys to guard someone like prime Shaq and then also have to live up to every doctrine of the Palyer’s Participation Policy.
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