Chet Holmgren’s Versatility Will Allow Him To Play Either Frontcourt Spot In NBA

The modern style of play in the NBA rewards versatile players that can impact the game in many ways and at multiple positions. The Oklahoma City Thunder has leaned into this, building a roster of players that have vast skillsets which allows the team to be very flexible and creative when building the rotation each night.

Although Oklahoma City is coming off of a great season with a postseason appearance, the upcoming 2023-24 campaign will feature a team that has a much higher potential ceiling. This is due to a variety of factors, but the most notable reason is the addition of Chet Holmgren.

Standing at 7-foot-1, Holmgren has the size of an NBA center but actually fits quite well in the modern NBA as someone who can play other positions as well. This will allow the Thunder to play him as a true big or as a jumbo power forward.

At the end of the day, it’s really less about whether Holmgren is on the court labeled as a power forward or center, but more about the type of frontcourt player he’s playing with. If it’s a more traditional big, Holmgren is able to play differently than if he was playing with a perimeter-oriented player in the frontcourt.

Luckily for Holmgren, he will get the chance to experience both situations throughout the upcoming season. The ability to play next to nearly any type of player in the frontcourt speaks to his versatility. He’s likely to start next to guys like Jalen Williams or Josh Giddey, who are strong wings that will slide up and play what’s traditionally been the power forward spot. However, there will be other times in which Holmgren plays alongside Jaylin Williams and others that stylistically are traditional centers which means Holmgren can spend time further from the rim.

Again, the 7-footer will likely be labeled as a center throughout his career, but has the skillset and versatility to slide down to the four spot. He has great experience doing that at the college level, when he spent a season at Gonzaga playing next to Drew Timme.

Holmgren continued to get experience playing alongside a traditional big during NBA Summer League this month with Jaylin Williams in the starting lineup. On both ends of the floor, he was able to make a tremendous impact playing all over the floor rather than just working in and around the paint.

When asked about what playing next to another center allows him to do, Holmgren spoke about how much he can do defensively when he can play all over the floor.

“It allows my length to be found in the game in different ways,” said the Thunder rookie in Las Vegas. “When he [Williams] is at the five, he’s in coverage more and I’m able to move around and roam the court a little more on defense. Allows me to be the low man and in help to come over for blocks if someone gets beat or use my length in passing lanes and be an on-ball defender as well.”

On the offensive end, Holmgren has the ability to space the floor and make plays with the ball in his hands. As such, the ability to play more on the perimeter with someone like Williams on the floor plays into his favor. Holmgren once again provided insight on how playing more of a forward role opens things up for him and the team.

“On offense it allows me to be in the action a little more off the dribble when he’s at the five and he comes and sets one [a screen] for me,” Holmgren said. “It allows us to be able to have action on both sides. It just helps open up things. It’s not a completely different game but when he’s out there it definitely helps me as well.”

With Chet Holmgren’s ability to be effective next to nearly anyone in the frontcourt, the Oklahoma City Thunder will have a ton of lineup flexibility moving forward.