The 2022 draft class was heaven sent for the OKC Thunder. Thanks to Sam Presti, the Thunder had three first-round picks to choose from, including two in the lottery. The crown jewel of the draft, however, was Chet Holmgren. The seven-one center from Gonzaga was a trailblazing prospect. He crossed up Curry at his own camp, and shot over 40% from deep in his sole college year. Holmgren was the perfect fit for the team OKC was trying to assemble. But there were a few roadblocks.

Being so agile at his size meant that Holmgren was injury prone. He missed the entirety of his rookie year, and has been out injured for the last two months as well. Chet Holmgren had suffered a hard fall against Curry and his Warriors in November, suffering a fracture to his hip. It wasn’t looking good for the seven-foot-one stretch forward. The Thunder, however, were thriving. SGA is having a career year, making his presence known in the MVP race. His efforts have kept OKC at the top of the NBA with an astounding 40-9 record.

Even though OKC stayed quiet while the Lakers and the Mavs were making headlines this week, it was clear they had something in the works. Ahead of their game against the Raptors on Friday, the Thunder had great news to share with their fans! Star forward Chet Holmgren has just been taken off the injury report, signaling an NBA comeback after two months of rehab.

He referenced his comeback on his Instagram, sharing the iconic Jordan quote in his latest post’s caption, “I’m Back.” Fans cannot wait to see the forward in action, however, as OKC always looks better when their big man is on the court! Holmgren doesn’t have to rush too much, however, as the Thunder have found some backup for him.

Daniel Theis to the Thunder, Holmgren breathes easy

The Thunder front-office has thought everything through. With Chet Holmgren all set to make his NBA return post the trade deadline, they didn’t want him to rush into anything.

Right as the trade deadline was closing, the Thunder acquired Daniel Theis from the New Orleans Pelicans. OKC’s center position has been very weak this year, with Holmgren and Hartenstein both struggling with injuries. Theis’ addition to the Thunder is a welcome move, adding depth to their rotation.

As Holmgren continues to recover and gain confidence, Daniel Theis can hold it down. The German forward is averaging 4.3 points and rebounds a game this season through limited minutes. As a third-string center, he is a perfect fit for the Oklahoma-based team.

It will be interesting to see how Chet Holmgren’s return plays out, as he hasn’t touched the NBA courts in quite a while. His recovery has been well-documented, and fans are ready to see him in action again! Make sure to watch the Raptors game on Friday, and let us know what you think of OKC’s chances this year.