Chet Holmgren Of Oklahoma City Thunder To Miss 8-10 Weeks Due To Pelvic Fracture

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The Oklahoma City Thunder have announced that Chet Holmgren, their starting center, will be out for eight to ten weeks. This follows a pelvic fracture he sustained during a game against the Golden State Warriors. The injury occurred when Holmgren fell hard while contesting a shot in the first quarter of the Thunder's 127-116 defeat. He has been diagnosed with a right iliac wing fracture.

Holmgren, who was the runner-up for the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year, had been instrumental in Oklahoma City's impressive 8-1 start to the season. Before his injury, he was averaging 18.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, shooting 40% from beyond the arc. His defensive prowess was also notable, ranking third in the NBA with 2.6 blocks per game.

The Thunder are already dealing with another significant absence as Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to be out until December due to a fractured left hand sustained during pre-season. Hartenstein joined Oklahoma City on a three-year, $87 million contract, marking the largest deal in franchise history. Last season with the Knicks, he averaged 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Holmgren's absence is particularly impactful given his strong performance since returning from a previous injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 season. During his debut campaign in 2023-24, Holmgren played all 82 games and averaged 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, helping lead the Thunder to a Western Conference No. 1 seed with a record of 57-25.

Chet Holmgren was selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft but missed his initial season due to a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Despite this setback, he made an impressive return last season and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder are hopeful for Holmgren's return later this season as they aim to maintain their strong start despite these challenges. A status update regarding his recovery is expected within eight to ten weeks.