The Oklahoma City Thunder still look every bit as much like favorites to come back and defend their championship again, all thanks to their rising young core. But while OKC’s defense remains a bigger storyline, the All-Star weekend provided a lighter moment and a memorable milestone for their star, Chet Holmgren.
For the first time in his career, Holmgren walked away from the NBA All-Star Game with more than just experience. He left with jewelry.
Chet Holmgren’s Honest Reaction to His First All-Star Ring
Following the 75th NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Holmgren admitted he had no idea an All-Star selection came with a ring.
“I didn’t know that you get a ring for All-Star until I got it,” Holmgren said. “It’s pretty cool, it comes with a video and a box with it. It’s pretty sick, but I think I like our ring from last summer a little bit more.”
Asked Chet Holmgren about receiving his All-Star ring before the game:
“It’s pretty sick, but I think I like our ring from last summer a little bit more.” https://t.co/wj5P9k6Qfs pic.twitter.com/X7NifcPDDA
— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) February 16, 2026
The subtle jab referenced Oklahoma City’s championship ring from its title run, a reminder that while the All-Star honor is meaningful, team success still sits above individual accolades in Holmgren’s mind.
The All-Star ring tradition dates back decades, though it often flies under the radar. For Holmgren, it served as a physical marker of his leap from promising young big to bona fide NBA star.
Impact on the Floor During Team Stars’ Title Run
Holmgren wasn’t just along for the ride. He contributed across three mini-games as Team USA Stars captured the All-Star title in the revamped tournament format.
In the opening matchup against Team World, Holmgren entered with his team trailing and immediately helped spark a momentum shift. His defensive presence helped ignite a quick run, and he threw down a powerful slam late to trim the deficit to one. The Stars eventually forced overtime behind Anthony Edwards’ late three-pointer before securing the win.
Holmgren finished the first game with two points and one rebound in five minutes, but made a noticeable defensive impact. The second contest against Team USA Stripes was tighter. Holmgren logged seven minutes, recording one rebound, one assist, and one steal while finishing plus-two on the floor despite the narrow loss.
With a championship rematch against the Stripes looming, the Stars dominated from the opening tip. Holmgren entered midway through the final and helped stretch the lead with a putback, a three-pointer, and a statement one-handed dunk to close the night. He finished the championship game with eight points, two rebounds, and two blocks on efficient shooting.
All-Star Weekend offered Holmgren a moment to celebrate individual growth. But the Thunder’s focus remains squarely on the second half of the season.
Holmgren has already positioned himself as one of the league’s premier young defenders and a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and fellow standout Jalen Williams, he forms part of a core built to contend now, not just in the future.
The All-Star ring may be “pretty sick,” as Holmgren put it. But if his comments are any indication, he’s chasing something heavier.
