Thunder rebuild – Chet Holmgren appeared overwhelmed during the Western Conference finals this year, and the Thunder are now focused on one thing entering the next stretch: his mental toughness. With Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was forced
During the Western Conference finals, Chet Holmgren was on the court—healthy, active, involved. But the offense didn’t move the way it should when he touched it.
The moment the series got tighter, the Oklahoma City Thunder leaned on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to do everything. Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell were sidelined. and the help came in short bursts from Jared McCain and Cason Wallace. among others. Still, it left the production burden heavy, and the Thunder needed Holmgren to be more than a presence.
Instead, he looked like a shell of himself. He completely melted into what the Thunder couldn’t afford: a puddle of offensive uselessness. The problem wasn’t just that he wasn’t scoring. It was how quickly the offense seemed to lose its rhythm when he tried to participate.
Holmgren’s line of thinking appeared to collapse any time he stared down Victor Wembanyama with the ball in his hands. The turnovers and mishaps didn’t read like ordinary playoff rust. The account here is blunt: he fumbled the ball, would lose possession, or inexplicably fall to the ground. The overall impression was that Wembanyama wasn’t simply defending him—he was getting inside his head.
And that’s the point Oklahoma City can’t ignore heading into this summer. The Thunder can’t afford a repeat of the same mental shutdown once the playoffs heat up. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs Holmgren to show up when it matters most. because SGA can’t carry the load the way he did in the Western Conference finals without help.
So the focus shifts from mechanics to mindset—putting Holmgren through “Victor Wembanyama academy. ” as the approach is framed. preparing his mind so he can help SGA when the going gets tough. It’s not about Holmgren being perfect every game. It’s about preventing the kind of disappearing act that makes a whole series feel lopsided.
The roster chess changes too. With Williams sidelined and Mitchell also out, Holmgren’s value needed to show up as a real offensive option. At minimum. he has to be a secondary scorer—tertiary at the least. with a clearer path to that role when Williams is healthy. If he’s hesitant. if he’s afraid to take the shot. if another star can rattle him into mistakes. SGA gets pulled into a carry job that strains everything around him.
The expectation going forward is straightforward: Holmgren needs a stronger mind than he showed in that stretch. He can’t let another player—specifically Wembanyama in this case—get to him. The Thunder need him to be confident. look for his shots. and stay engaged in the offense. unafraid to take on whoever stands in his way on that end of the court.
Because in the Western Conference finals this year, that wasn’t the case. And Oklahoma City is trying to make sure it won’t happen again when the stakes rise and the postseason demands more than being on the floor.
Oklahoma City Thunder Chet Holmgren Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Western Conference finals Victor Wembanyama Jalen Williams Ajay Mitchell Jared McCain Cason Wallace playoff mentality
Dude needs to just play better, simple.
Wait so they’re blaming his “mentality” but he was healthy?? Seems like the team offense just didn’t work, not his head. Also Wemby being in his head sounds like coach talk.
Holmgren “fumbled” and fell a lot? That might be more like conditioning or foot stuff? I saw one highlight where he stumbled and everyone acted like it was mental. Victor gets under people’s skin for sure though, I get it.
Honestly if Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell were out then of course Chet looked off. You can’t tell me Shai can carry and also somehow Holmgren’s the only problem. Sounds like they’re setting him up with “playoffs pressure” instead of looking at the fact they didn’t have the right pieces. Also the article says SGA can’t carry without help, but then it’s like SGA is the whole offense… idk.