Chet Holmgren, a forward for Oklahoma City, who was selected second overall in this year’s NBA draught, will miss the 2022–23 campaign due to a right foot injury.
The Thunder revealed on Thursday that the 7-footer had sustained a Lisfranc injury during a pro-am game last weekend in Seattle, close to where he played for Gonzaga the previous season.
Holmgren will have surgery to repair the ruptured tendon at an undisclosed time, according to general manager Sam Presti, and he should be ready for the 2023–24 season.
The long-term outlook is excellent for this, according to Presti.
As some fans have speculated, Presti claimed the injury won’t force the Thunder to withdraw and he won’t be searching for a better spot in the 2023 draught.
We’ve started every season since 2008 in the same fashion, which is to wait and watch how the season unfolds.
The 7-footer was hurt during a pro-am game last weekend in Seattle.
Holmgren’s thinness was cited by skeptics as a disadvantage and as a potential reason, he shouldn’t have been selected so quickly.
The year allows him to add weight to his 195-pound physique, among other things.”
It’s not unusual for a top lottery pick to sit out his rookie NBA season, and in some situations, it hasn’t prevented players from reaching All-Star or even MVP-caliber levels.
He will have surgery at an unspecified time.
The 2016 first-round pick, Ben Simmons, missed the 2017–18 season due to a foot ailment.
In 2014, Joel Embiid, the reigning NBA champion, was ranked third despite missing his first two seasons due to foot problems.
Even earlier for the Thunder team, Nick Collison, the 12th overall choice in the 2003 draught, was unable to play the season after due to shoulder issues.
After that, Collison spent his entire career playing for the Thunder, who were his no.
Other lottery picks, like Jonas Valanciunas, have missed out on what may have been their pro seasons.
Before entering the NBA, Dario Saric and Ricky Rubio, two lottery picks, played for two more years with their respective international clubs. Presti doesn’t worry much about Holmgren in the long run and thinks his motivation will help him cope with the healing process.
Presti stated, “I believe he is in an excellent position to do well. “
