NBA Draft Profile: Chet Holmgren

In the modern NBA, every team is looking for their own “unicorn,” a big man with the passing and/or shooting ability of a guard. Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Mr. Unicorn himself, Kristaps Porzingis, are some players whose game represents a unicorn style of play better than anyone.

 

In this year’s NBA draft, the biggest unicorn prospect ever will be selected somewhere in the top three picks: Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren.

 

Background: The 20-year-old Minnesota native was the No.1 ranked basketball recruit coming out of high school. After considering offers from 30 schools, he opted to head west to Washington and attend the University of Gonzaga.

 

At Gonzaga, Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, to go along with 10 rebounds and two assists per game. However, most notably are Holmgren’s 3.7 blocks per game, which ranked 4th among all college players.

 

Strengths: Holmgren is a 7’0 big man who has the talent of an elite guard. Simple as that. His length and athleticism cannot be taught, which is why he’s a unicorn.

 

He shot 60.7% from the field, 12th best in the NCAA, his 9.9 rebounds are 18th best, and he shot from beyond the arc at 39%. Not to mention, his 7’6 reach is a serious attribute on the defensive end, just ask Giannis Antetokounmpo.

 

He also has no shortage of confidence. When asked who the best player in the NBA is, he said, “Myself in two months.”

 

Holmgren has the talent to become one of the best players in the NBA, it’ll all depend on whether or not he can fill out his frame.

 

Weaknesses: If Holmgren ever decides to go to the beach, he may need to wear weights around his legs so he doesn’t blow away.

 

At 7’0 and 190 pounds, Holmgren is an extremely long and skinny kid who can get bullied in the interior by stronger and more athletic bigs.

 

Because of Gonzaga’s conference, they tend to have an easier schedule than most big-name schools. From it, we didn’t see Holmgren go against top-tier schools until March Madness. Holmgren was a shell of himself in the two games against Memphis and Arkansas.

 

In the game against Memphis, you knew Holmgren would struggle from the start. Memphis was one of the nation’s most athletic and physical teams, two things the 190-pound big man can get outmatched by. Holmgren scored nine points, had five fouls, and two turnovers. If it weren’t for a few calls that went Gonzaga’s way and a heroic effort by Drew Timme, Gonzaga would have been bounced from the tournament.

 

Instead, they got bounced a week later from an also athletic and physical team in Arkansas. In the game against Arkansas, Holmgren did collect 14 rebounds, but he was still a liability in the paint on the defensive end as he once again collected five fouls. The athleticism isn’t a problem for Holmgren, it’s his size.

 

If Holmgren wants to be successful in the NBA, he’ll need to text a kid from Greece who looked awfully similar when entering the draft for his workout regimen.

 

Prediction: 2nd overall to OKC Thunder. Holmgren currently sits at -165 to go 2nd overall in the NBA draft.

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