Chet Holmgren Injury: Is 7-Footer's Foot Sprain Harbinger Of NBA Injury Problems?
2 min read • August 24, 2022
Update: The Thunder announced Thursday that Chet Holmgren is out for the season with a Lisfranc injury. Given the timing of the injury he should be fully recovered for the 2023-24 season.
Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that Thunder rookie center Chet Holmgren is feared to have suffered torn ligaments in his right foot.
Holmgren appeared to suffer the foot injury during Saturday's pro-am game in Seattle while defending LeBron James on a fastbreak drive.
After this injury the Pro Basketball Docs re-assert their concerns about Holmgren's unique and slender frame and his ability to immediately contend with NBA-level physicality, concerns that dropped his SIC score to 71 ahead of the Draft.
Chet Holmgren Injury Update
On this particular play, James lowered his body and put his full force into a back-pedaling Holmgren, who appeared to suffer the ligament damage when he planted his foot for his final step before contesting.
James' use of his lower body strength and muscle mass – while admittedly also not normal – against the 195-pound versatile center is the matchup that puts Holmgren at risk of injuries until he builds more muscle.
Based on limited video it's difficult to assess the specifics and severity of Holmgren's injury, according to the Pro Basketball Docs, who said they won't hypothesize how much time he could miss until the Thunder provide more information.
As evidenced by several injuries this season, foot injuries are hard to predict and can span a wide range of recovery timelines from three weeks for Steph Curry to two months for a still-limited Anthony Davis to an entire season for Zion Williamson.
The pro-am game ended early because of safety concerns about the condensation on the court, although it is impossible to know whether that contributed to Holmgren's injury.
Oklahoma City's regular season begins on October 19 in Minnesota, giving the 20-year-old a little under two months to rehab in time for the opening tip.
