![]() ![]() The term "unicorn," when used in a modern-day basketball context, is one of praise, describing players of rare physical attributes and skill sets - often a very tall player who operates on the court with skills that you might typically associate with a guard or wing. If you can shoot and play defense you can play anywhere at any time in any game.Before Chet Holmgren was selected second-overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2022 NBA draft, he kicked off his college career as a freshman at Gonzaga. “Most importantly,” he said, “I want my jump shot to be pure and consistent. Holmgren knows he will have to bulk up and get stronger to compete in the NBA and said this week he is “continuing to work on my body every single day in the weight room” and “nutritionally.” ![]() Some NBA personnel believe it will take Holmgren 2-3 years to get his body NBA ready, with one saying that made Auburn’s Smith “the surest bet.” We have shirts from our program that read, ‘We want the smoke.’ We live by that Chet and Jalen are the poster child for that message.” Also Chet has an edge to him mentally that KD didn’t have coming right into the league. “The comparisons to me are more of body type and Chet’s ability to shoot the ball and handle it. “For one, he is a way better rim protector than KD and plays a different style. ![]() “KD is definitely one of the guys that I’ve watched and try to emulate some of the things that he does,” he said.īrian Sandifer, who coached Holmgren and Orlando’s Jalen Suggs with the Grassroots Sizzle AAU program, thinks Holmgren is different from Durant, though. Holmgren shrugged off comparisons but said he does try to “emulate” Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, who was super-thin coming out of Texas and owns the nickname “The Slim Reaper.” (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty Images NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Tucker #17 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends in the final seconds of regulation during game seven of the Eastern Conference second round at Barclays Center on Jin the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 19: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets takes a shot to tie the game and. Even with that, it’s hard to put Chet in a box because he is unique.” ![]() “I would say he plays on both ends of the floor the way a young Kevin Garnett did coming out of high school. “It’s crazy because there are not many prototypes like ,” ESPN college basketball expert Fran Fraschilla said. He is a basketball unicorn in the truest sense of the word.ĭespite their vastly different body types, he is similar to Zion Williamson because NBA draft experts had no real pure comparison for the 6-7, 285-pound Williamson coming out of Duke three years ago, either. When it comes to NBA comparisons for Holmgren, there really is no pure analogy. He really does everything on the offensive end, so he’s going to help them quite a bit while also being a Defensive Player of the Year type candidate.” He’s a tremendous finisher, he can create his own shot, he’s terrific handling the ball off the defensive glass. “They were the worst offense in the NBA last year, and he’s going to bring them great gravity with his ability to stretch the floor. “They have a huge need in the frontcourt,” Givony said Wednesday on SportsCenter. In terms of spacing the floor and figuring out where to fit in with those guys (and) what they’d like to do and how to compare, I feel like that’d be an easy transition.”ĮSPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony believes Holmgren would be a “terrific fit” in Oklahoma City. He went to get to wherever he wants to on the floor and make things happen on his own. “And then, with Shai, he doesn’t really need any help from anybody. (It) makes life easy for me and being a lob threat, as well as being able to open up the floor for him, as well spacing the floor - things like that. I feel like I have a wide variety of skills that compare well with anybody - especially a point guard like Josh Giddey, who has great vision, knows how to get into the teeth of defense and distribute the ball. “I feel like I’m somebody who highlights other players’ skills as well as finds where to fit in with my skills. “I feel like I could fit in with almost anybody,” he said. ![]()
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