The news that no one wanted to hear is here. Moreover, the Oklahoma City Thunder fans are going to be devastated. The hard fall that we saw Chet Holmgren suffer has shattered hopes as well. The team announced that Chet Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture early in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. It’s definitely a setback for Holmgren, who was starting to make a real impact.

The no.2 draft pick of 2022 was forced to exit early in the game against the Warriors after a hard fall in the first quarter, putting him on the sidelines for what looks to be a lengthy period. The injury happened with 6:50 left in the first when Holmgren attempted to block Andrew Wiggins’ layup. After making contact in the air, Holmgren hit the ground on his right side and lay there, clutching his right hip.

Holmgren, who finished second in last year’s Rookie of the Year voting, had been showing growth through his first nine games, posting impressive averages: 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.9 blocks, ranking him second in the league for blocks per game.

Following his return-to-play protocol, we should expect an update on Holmgren’s recovery and anticipated return date in 8-10 weeks. Fans are weighing in their opinions on this new update.

Fans blame Chet Holmgren’s lack of muscle with topping the Western Conference looking bleak

One user commented, “So does he get another rookie year?” an attempt at humor in these stressful times? I’m not too sure. For the uninitiated, the 7-foot-1 center was drafted in 2022, but his rookie season began in 2023-24. A Lisfranc fracture in his right foot cut Holmgren’s 22-23 season short, keeping him off the court before he even went full throttle.

Another netizen commented, “Maybe cause hes 8 foot 120 pounds”. Holmgren’s slim frame has drawn attention from fans, some even calling him a “war prisoner” after a practice clip surfaced in September. Nikola Jokic himself weighed in, saying, “I think he needs experience. I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest.” Holmgren did manage to put on 13 pounds during his time off in the 2022-23 season, but if he’s shed any of that weight now, it does raise some concerns.

One user chimed in with “Eat more burgers abraham“. Another 7-foot-1 center who used to eat burgers on matchday and still breaks backboards? I’m obviously talking about Shaquille O’Neal. If Shaq could do it, then maybe Chet should have a go at it, too. Who knows, he could become dominating, just like Big Diesel.

“OKC just got REAL SMALL!!!” said one user, taking a dig at the franchise and Chet’s height. Oklahoma City will face serious frontcourt challenges without Holmgren, particularly with the recent addition of Isaiah Hartenstein also out because of a preseason hand fracture. Missing Holmgren and Hartenstein leaves the Thunder lacking much-needed size in their lineup.

One user has charted Chet Holmgren’s plan for recovery perfectly, they wrote “Gotta recover, bulk up, get back on“. Gaining muscle on a 7-foot-1 frame is difficult, but the player he is most compared to has done it. Victor Wembanyama has gained a whopping 24 pounds for the 24-25 season. If Holmgren could hire the French phenom’s nutritionist and trainer, it could do wonders for him. But first, he has to recover.