The San Antonio Spurs eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals. Chet Holmgren struggled mightily throughout the series, and Victor Wembanyama soundly outplayed him.
However, Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti is not giving up on the 24-year-old.
Sam Presti Gives His Thoughts on Chet Holmgren’s Struggles Against Spurs
Presti spoke to the media regarding Holmgren’s rough series. He gave an honest assessment of the All-Star’s performance but reassured Oklahoma City fans, and possibly Holmgren himself, that many players can go through these struggles. The true test lies in how they respond.
“He didn’t have a great series in the last series … but if you go back and look at some of the greatest players in the game, they all have these moments where they run into defeat or struggle. That’s what makes them great players is that they are able to move on from that and improve,” explained Presti.
Sam Presti on Chet Holmgren:
“He didn’t have a great series in the last series … but if you go back and look at some of the greatest players in the game, they all have these moments where they run into defeat or struggle.”pic.twitter.com/3c6NzhCwmo
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 8, 2026
Holmgren’s 2026 Western Conference Finals numbers certainly paled in comparison to his regular-season totals. He averaged 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and took just 7.3 shots per game. In contrast, the 7-foot-1 big man put up 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in his 2025-26 All-Star campaign.
Analysts and fans did not hold back their criticism of Holmgren’s performance, but he can turn that around with excellent play next season.
Presti talked about Holmgren’s “underdog” mentality and why it will help him bounce back.
“He’s been questioned all the time … People had all kinds of questions and doubts. That’s nothing new to this guy … This is a guy that is intrinsically motivated. He doesn’t need people questioning him or things on the internet to drive his improvement,” said Presti.
The Thunder started this season without Jalen Williams while he recovered from offseason wrist surgery. He did not play his first game until November 28, and hamstring injuries limited him to 33 total regular-season contests. Presti noted that Holmgren “significantly improved” in Williams’ absence, and the numbers back up his claim.
Presti emphasized Holmgren’s hunger for success this season, despite winning the 2025 NBA title. He upped his scoring from 15.0 points per game last season and increased his efficiency, shooting 49.0% from the field in 2024-25 compared to 55.7% this season.
Holmgren will likely spend his summer tuning out criticism and focusing on what he can control: his on-court play. He needs to be more aggressive and decisive with the ball in his hands against Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio in 2026-27.
The league will undoubtedly put these matchups on center stage, and Presti believes Holmgren will be ready to shift the narrative.
