Chet Holmgren’s NBA journey has been a rollercoaster—flashes of brilliance, then heartbreak. Every time it feels like OKC’s 7-foot-1 unicorn is really starting to take off, something happens. And by something, we mean an injury. It’s been the story of his career so far, and Friday night against the Hawks, it happened again.

The Thunder are legit contenders this season, and this is probably the worst possible time for Chet to go down. With the playoffs around the corner, OKC fans are holding their breath, just hoping this isn’t another long-term setback.

The game was moving along just fine until, out of nowhere, Chet tweaked his ankle in the first quarter. He tried to tough it out, stayed on the court for a bit, but you could tell something was off. Then, with about 1:43 left in the first half, he checked out. That was it. The Thunder later confirmed he wouldn’t return, officially calling it a left ankle sprain.

And yeah, he put up some solid numbers in just 15 minutes—seven points, four boards, three dimes—but none of that mattered once he headed to the locker room.

What makes this even more frustrating? Chet was already dealing with an issue before the game even started. His right calf contusion had listed him as questionable, but after getting cleared, he suited up anyway. And now? Another setback.

At this point, even the smallest knock is a concern given his injury history. That’s exactly why fans are worried—he’s already missed so much time, and nobody wants this to turn into another long, drawn-out absence.

A Troubling Pattern—Holmgren’s Injury History Is a Growing Concern

Unfortunately, this is no freak accident, and this has happened before. And that is scary because this is starting to become a pattern.

Chet Holmgren’s first big injury? It didn’t even happen in an NBA game. It was a Pro-Am event in Summer 2022, and he made the mistake of trying to stop LeBron on a fast break. Boom—Lisfranc injury. Just like that, his rookie season was over before it even began. Brutal.

He spent a full year rehabbing, finally made his NBA debut in 2023-24, and looked incredible—playing all 82 games. Injury concerns? Gone. Until November 2024.

This time, it was a right iliac wing fracture (hip injury) after a nasty fall against the Warriors. And just as he was putting together an All-Star season, he was sidelined for 39 straight games. And now? Another setback.

This time, it’s his left ankle. It’s not as serious as the Lisfranc fracture or the hip injury, but at what point do people stop calling it bad luck and start wondering if there’s something bigger at play?

There’s no doubt he’s a beast when he’s healthy. This season he’s averaging 15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. He protects the rim, stretches the floor and adds a true two way weapon in the frontcourt for OKC.

However, it doesn’t matter if he can’t stay on the court. He’s part of the future blueprint for the Thunder, and every time he gets hurt, it raises the question whether his body will hold up to the grind of an 82 game season + playoffs.

And the timing? It couldn’t be worse.

OKC is rolling. They’re sitting at 47-11, near the top of the West, looking like real contenders. Chet has been a huge part of that, building chemistry with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Losing him now, even for a few weeks, would be a massive blow.

Yeah, they have depth in the frontcourt, but let’s be real—there’s no replacing Chet Holmgren. His shot-blocking, his floor spacing, his overall impact on both ends of the floor—you don’t just “next man up” that. If he’s out for an extended stretch, OKC will have to lean on guys like Jaylin Williams, and that’s a tough ask when you’re trying to lock in for a title run.

The Thunder have always taken a cautious approach with him, and they’re not gonna rush him back. But this is where the bigger conversation starts. If these injuries keep stacking up, how much do they hold him back from reaching his true potential?

OKC needs him at full strength to make a deep playoff run. Right now, all they can do is wait and hope this isn’t another major roadblock in what should be a legendary career.