Chet Holmgren has impressed both basketball pundits and fans, averaging 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game on 54.4% from the field. His performance has been a pivotal factor in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s standing as the second seed in the Western Conference.
This season, Holmgren has gained a lot of believers who have been giving him all sorts of praise. As a red-shirt rookie who’s in the running for the Rookie of the Year award, he seems to deserve it. But basketball legends like Shaquille O’Neal see things differently.
On “The Big Podcast With Shaq,” O’Neal expressed his reluctance to use words like “great,” “phenomenal,” “future hall of famer,” or “promising” for Holmgren. He thinks that actual greats had to work hard to earn those titles, so he feels it’s too soon to use them for the young OKC center.
“I hate when y’all do that. You’re throwing out words that we had to work hard for. He’s good but don’t be going promising, great and future hall of famer. Starting today, I’m putting an end to all that sh-t.”
Shaq is not ready to call Chet Holmgren a great player after two or three good games
“You’re throwing out words that we had to work hard for.”
( @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/Fq8UjW2LsB) pic.twitter.com/RxFVVLfRff
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 4, 2024
