To succeed in life, you must not be afraid of failing! This, in summary, is the philosophy currently adopted by Chet Holmgren (2m16, 21 years old), the rookie pivot of the Thunder who is already running at 16.7 points (54% shooting success including 39% at 3-points), 7.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 blocks per game.
Invited to the All-Star Weekend as part of the “Rising Stars Challenge”, Chet Holmgren was able to meet the cream of the Big League. Including some big names that he had already worked with, like Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett…
“ [Kevin Garnett] was sweating even more than me and he was running around during the session. He’s super lively, he’s got juice! I was almost intimidated by his mere presence! “, says Chet Holmgren by talking about his workouts last summer alongside the “Big Ticket”. “ [Kevin Durant] still trains the same way for twenty years. They've obviously had a lot of success and all that, but what interests me is how I can learn from these guys. Rather than just saying, 'Wow, it's really cool to be able to chat with them.' »
After a blank year after leaving Gonzaga, Chet Holmgren has already been able to “wash up” with great players but, this season, he can above all apply this multitude of advice. After having experienced, in real life, said match situations that he only heard about before.
“As a perfectionist, you always want to do the decisive action. But sometimes you're so focused on making every shot that you start to think too much about your shots. Guys take thousands of shots every season. Nobody fits them all. I have to understand this” he elaborates.
“The mark of a loser is to hide. He doesn't hide! »
A little struggling at the end of January, with five of his seven games of the season finishing below 10 points scored in the space of two weeks, Chet Holmgren has since regained color. And it's not this experience with the best players in Indianapolis that will take him off the straight and narrow.
“He has a unique ability to accept competition, for a guy who has so much to lose. He has a reputation, he was second choice in the Draft. And yet, he is ready to take on any challenge, and to risk failure,” greets his coach Mark Daigneault, particularly proud to see him oppose opponents under the circle again and again. “But winners are willing to lose. The mark of a loser is hiding, not losing. He doesn't hide! »
Always ready to take important shots at the end of the match, Chet Holmgren will inevitably expose himself to criticism when the leather refuses to reach the circle. But the gentle giant from Minnesota only has to remember his more than chaotic beginnings to put things into perspective.
“When I first started playing, all I did was screw up! It's not like I picked up the ball and was the reincarnation of Michael Jordan. I was horrible. I missed a lot of stuff before I got it right. And it will continue like this. None of the great players in history have ever failed. It's part of the process. And not just in basketball, in life in general. »
| Chet Holmgren | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | OKAY | 54 | 30 | 53.5 | 39.3 | 77.3 | 1.6 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 16.7 |
| Total | 54 | 30 | 53.5 | 39.3 | 77.3 | 1.6 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 16.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
