Gonzaga Bulldogs: Chet Holmgren to miss first NBA season
In June, we welcomed him to the NBA. Now, Chet Holmgren will sit out for his first year due to a foot injury.
Former Gonzaga Bulldogs center Chet Holmgren injured his right foot during the CrawsOver Pro-Am game in Seattle, last month. He has been diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury of his right foot, which is damage to the bones or ligaments in the mid-foot, and will miss the 2022-23 season.
At the draft in June, he was welcomed into the NBA. Unfortunately, Holmgren went down after a Summer Pro-Am game, guarding LeBron James. Many on social media and some sports analysts had given the appropriate sympathies but said it was only a matter of time before he suffered a serious injury.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Star
As part of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Holmgren played the full 32 games. His height and frame never played a negative part in his performance. Holmgren never even rolled an ankle.
He averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks in Spokane last year. Watching him play was an experience. His awards at the end of the season, while too many to name here, told the story. Holmgren was the WCC Rookie of the Year and WCC Defensive Player of the Year, to name only two.
2022 NBA Summer League
Although the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t go to the Summer League championship, they were the team to watch because of the NBA’s newest Unicorn. In the first Salt Lake City game, the tandem of Holmgren and Josh Giddey was exciting to watch. The Slim Reaper scored 23 points, with 7 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 assists, and a steal in 24 minutes of play. Again, it was exciting to watch.
Holmgren made Summer League history as the first player to sink four baskets from three-point range and have six blocks in a game.
Not the first
Doctors expect Chet Holmgren to make a full recovery. He’s not the first player in the last several years to suffer a serious injury before his first NBA game. Three exciting players on this list include:
- Ben Simmons – missed his first year with a foot injury
- Joel Embiid – missed his first two years with a foot injury
- Blake Griffin – missed his first year with a knee injury;
All players recovered and have/had great careers.
We here at PNWS wish Chet Holmgren all the best for a speedy recovery.
Until next time, stay safe out there.