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Chet Holmgren acknowledges being 'out of rhythm,' missing 'opportunities' to get up shots against Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

A day after Oklahoma City’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, Thunder star Chet Holmgren acknowledged the obvious: He wasn’t active enough in the series or in Game 7.

Holmgren hoisted just two field-goal attempts in Saturday’s Game 7 loss. He finished 1 for 2 from the field with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 2 turnovers. He didn’t take a shot after Oklahoma City’s fourth possession of the game.

For the series, Holmgren averaged 7.3 field-goal attempts per game, four fewer than his average of 11.3 per game during the regular season. He didn’t eclipse that average in a single game against San Antonio; his 10 attempts from the floor in Game 2 marked the only time he reached double figures.

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Holmgren averaged 10.7 points per game against the Spurs, well below his regular-season average of 17.1 during an All-NBA campaign.

Holmgren acknowledges ‘area to improve’

On Sunday, Thunder players including Holmgren conducted end-of-season media availability. Holmgren was asked about his low volume of offensive output throughout the series. He admitted that he missed “opportunities” on offense.

“I think part of it was being closed out heavy to and then also kind of being a little bit out of rhythm at times.” Holmgren said. “I feel like there were definitely opportunities to get more attempts up that I didn't in the moment. That's an area to improve.”

Holmgren: Spurs are ‘different’

Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama impacted every Thunder player on the floor with his length and defensive presence — but none more than Holmgren. Holmgren tacitly acknowledged Wembanyama’s impact without saying the Spurs center’s name.

“I definitely think they’re different, in terms of, I don’t think there’s another team that has their play style, their personnel, Holmgren continued. “They’re unique in that way.

“You can’t just kind of play, like a base, normal this is what we kind of do on an average Tuesday night type of thing. They way you have to attack it is look at the film and look at the way you can improve and then work on the things you need to work on to be ready for any night no matter who you play.”

Indeed, getting up shots against Wembanyama isn’t an “average Tuesday night type of thing.” And it’s something the Thunder are going to have to figure for the long run as the Spurs figure to stand in their way in the Western Conference playoffs for years to come.

Holmgren, meanwhile, is a considerable part of Oklahoma City’s long-term plans as it looks to add more hardware after securing the franchise’s first NBA championship last season. He’s approaching the first year of a five-year, $239.3 million max contract extension he signed after last season’s title run.

If he wants to be a part of Oklahoma City's future title hopes, he’s going to have to figure out a way to solve Wembanyama.

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