Oklahoma City Thunder’s Center Chet Holmgren Sidelined for 8-10 Weeks Due to Pelvic Fracture

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been dealt a massive blow as starting center Chet Holmgren has been ruled out for at least eight weeks after suffering a pelvic fracture during the Thunders’ recent 127-116 home loss to the Golden State Warriors. According to reports, Holmgren is expected to return before the All-Star break in February.

The injury happened when Chet Holmgren attempted to block Andrew Wiggins’ dunk, leading to a frightening fall for the 22-year-old. As he exited the court, fans quickly noticed he wasn’t putting any weight on his right leg, sparking fears of a hip injury. However, the OKC Thunder have since eased those concerns, confirming that Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture. He’s expected to be out for 8-10 weeks—a tough blow for a Thunder squad that has kicked off the season in electrifying form. The Thunder started the 2024/25 season with seven straight wins, but losses to the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors ended their 100% record. 

Despite those defeats, the Thunder still occupy the first seed in a stacked Western Conference, having won nine of their first eleven games. Chet Holmgren has been an instrumental part in OKC’s stellar start. He has averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.6 blocks per game while playing 26.5 minutes per game. Additionally, he has recorded four double-doubles and ranks No. 3 in the NBA in blocks per game, trailing only the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (4.0 bpg) and Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler (2.8). Holmgren has been the anchor of OKC’s No.1 ranked defense. In 11 games this season, the Thunder’s defense has restricted opposing teams to just 102.8 points per game.  

Chet Holmgren has a very unique role in OKC’s offense and defense. He’s the player that provides height and rim protection to a relatively small lineup. On the offensive end, Holmgren’s ability to shoot from downtown makes him a triple threat, as he can score from beyond the arc, mid-range and near the rim. In fact, if Chet had been on the court against the Warriors, there’s a good chance that OKC wouldn’t have lost that match. The Thunder led 16-12 when Holmgren was taken out and eventually fell behind by 30 late in the third quarter. Following that defeat, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “It changed a lot for us defensively, for sure. You guys can probably tell, he does so much on that end of the floor. He cleans up so many things, deters so many things around the rim when he’s not blocking them (shots).”  

The Thunder suddenly find themselves stretched thin in the frontcourt. Holmgren had shifted from forward to center after new addition Isaiah Hartenstein went down with a fractured left hand. Adding to their woes, forward/center Jaylin Williams is sidelined with a right hamstring issue, while guard/forward Kenrich Williams is also out with a right knee injury. However, in their first full game without Holmgren, the OKC Thunder managed to claim a 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to a 45-point performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.