It was amidst supportive cheers and applause that Chet Holmgren left the floor, assisted by a trainer and Isaiah Hartenstein, in OKC’s tough loss to the Warriors tonight. Needless to say, the 22-year-old’s painful scream as he hit the floor and writhing in agony briefly before calming down had the entire arena stunned, praying to every God, no doubt, to ensure his safety! But one thing was clear – Oklahoma City may have just as well lost another one of their centers. And the whole situation had Jalen Williams in agony.

His teammate’s injury devastated the 2022 first-round pick. But Jalen couldn’t help but look further down the road, seeing a bleak reality that the Thunder would have to navigate.

“It’s tough. I don’t even know what his situation is right now, but just praying for him. Anytime you see one of your brothers go down, it’s hard to put yourself in the game… It’s kinda a next-man-up thing. Can’t dwell too long,” Jalen Williams admitted to Clemente Almanza, the Managing Editor of Thunder Wire. 

While his words reflect his deep concern for Chet Holmgren, they also highlight the challenging nature of the sport. Injuries are an unfortunate reality, and Jalen Williams acknowledged how tough it was to balance empathy for his friend with the need to stay mentally ready for the ongoing game. The fact of the matter is that Oklahoma is already down one big man in Hartenstein.

And now with Chet Holmgren likely out for at least the next few games with a hip injury, the franchise finds themselves thin on the frontcourt. The 7’1 center sustained the injury as he contested a layup from Andrew Wiggins, falling hard on his side. The medical staff quickly rushed to the scene, while we observed how Chet struggled to move.

After a few minutes on the floor, he gingerly rose, supported by staff, and, as outlined above, slowly moved to the locker room, dragging his leg while giving the crowd a thumbs up. The obvious verdict was soon announced – Holmgren won’t be returning to the floor. With two key big men down, how can the Thunder adapt?

Potential strategies for the OKC Thunder in the absence of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein

There is no doubt that the Thunder has to be resourceful going forward. And it just so happens that the team has built its identity on versatility, depth, and adaptability. As such, there are a few potential strategies they could enforce until OKC gets Holmgren, Hartenstein, or both back.

An immediate change the Thunder can make is to rely on small-ball lineups, prioritizing speed, agility, and perimeter shooting. This would effectively help the team utilize their strengths on the outside. If we are being specific, players like Jalen Williams and Lu Dort can switch on defense and stretch the floor offensively, making them ideal for a small-ball approach.

These two will probably see an increase in minutes, but particularly so in terms of rebounds and defense. The two forwards will be tasked with bringing extra physicality, especially in the paint, to ensure that they don’t miss too much of the size lost in the frontcourt.

With players like Aaron Wiggins and Kenrich Williams, OKC boasts a solid bench that can rotate to ensure a constant defensive presence. They will, of course, amp up their defensive game, forcing opponents into tough shots, and keeping fast-break opportunities at bay. Without the rim protectors, they’re used to, everyone has to step up, bringing that collective defensive mindset to the floor.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder adjust to the new challenge, the real question is, can their adaptability and depth propel them further? Or will the absence of their bigs be too much to overcome? Only time will tell.

But one thing is for sure – the next few games will be fascinating to watch!