Chet Holmgren Admits His "Welcome to the NBA Moment" Happened Against the Bulls

Chet Holmgren Admits His “Welcome to the NBA Moment” Happened Against the Bulls

Posted by author August 20, 2024 NBA

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Chet Holmgren will never forget Oct. 25, 2023.

Not only will the date go down as his official NBA debut (he missed the entirety of his first season with the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a foot injury), but it’s the game that immediately gave him his required “welcome to the NBA moment.” Often considered an embarrassing mishap, some rookies avoid their moment until later in Year 1. Holmgren got it over with fast, and he has former Bull Andre Drummond to thank for that.

Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder — (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Appearing on an episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Holmgren told the story of Drummond picking his pocket before breaking his ankles on opening night in Chicago. While he’s able to look back and laugh at the play now, he said there was definitely some initial frustration.

“My welcome to the NBA moment in a game was I got stripped by Andre Drummond. And, then, he made me fall not he fast break in my first game. I was so salty after the game, too,” Holmgren said. “I got asked about it being my welcome to the NBA moment and I didn’t want to say yes. But, now looking back, It’s like sh*t is kind of funny now. Damn, bro.”

Shield your eyes, Chet!

For as sneaky and nimble as Drummond can be, the big man is the last person you would expect to poke the ball away and cross you up. Adam Amin’s call expresses the pure shock everyone in the arena felt – which I’m sure included Holmgren.

Hey, at least the young seven-footer got to walk away with the last laugh. I’ve tried to forget that the Thunder left the United Center with a 124-104 victory that not. Not to mention, Holmgren went on to finish second in ROY voting last season and played a critical role in helping Oklahoma City finish at the top of the West! So while Drummond may have given him a harsh welcome to the league, I’m sure Holmgren will do the same thing to make rookies for years to come.