Chet Holmgren Appreciates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Support Following Game 7 Defeat

Chet Holmgren faced a challenging night during the Thunder's elimination in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. In a critical matchup, the All-Star forward managed only four points and four rebounds over 33 minutes, taking just two shots as the Thunder fell 111-103 at home, ending their hopes for a consecutive championship.

In stark contrast, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP, delivered an impressive performance with 35 points and nine assists. Despite his strong showing, the team ultimately could not compensate for Holmgren's subdued output. Rather than placing blame, Gilgeous-Alexander chose to stand by his teammate, emphasizing Holmgren's significance to the team's success. “We need Chet Holmgren,” he stated in his exit interview. “Before Chet was here, we weren’t who we are today.”

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault echoed Gilgeous-Alexander's sentiments regarding Holmgren's role within the team. Holmgren responded positively to this show of support during his own exit interview, stating, “It’s always great to have support from people that are not only great people, but are as talented as they are at what they do.”

Following this series, the Spurs will move on to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, marking a significant achievement for San Antonio.