The Oklahoma City Thunder were the favorites to repeat as NBA champions throughout the season until they ran into Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs proved to be the Thunder’s nemesis during the regular season, and the postseason was no different.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. managed to extend the Western Conference Finals series to Game 7, but aside from the back-to-back MVP, no one stepped up for Oklahoma City on Saturday. Chet Holmgren was a major disappointment and is now under fire from the NBA world.
How the NBA World Reacted to Chet Holmgren’s Game 7 Letdown Against the Spurs
In a game dominated by Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, Holmgren was virtually invisible in the must-win contest. He was on the court for 33 minutes but managed just 4 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks while shooting 50.0% from the field.
The All-Star big man attempted just 2 shots the entire game, committed 2 turnovers, and finished with a -3 plus-minus.
If that wasn’t disappointing enough, more scrutiny is coming for the Thunder, as Holmgren’s five-year, $239.25 million extension is set to kick in next season, and many are now urging the front office to explore alternatives.
“The Thunder have been gathering future assets for years, and tonight proved it’s time to use them. Sam Presti and OKC have the perfect opportunity to move their draft picks this year and Chet Holmgren for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason,” wrote ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel.
The Thunder have been gathering future assets for years, and tonight proved it’s time to use them.
Sam Presti and OKC have the perfect opportunity to move their draft picks this year and Chet Holmgren for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) May 31, 2026
One user added, “Gonna take a LONG time to get over the play of Chet Holmgren tonight. I mean a LONG time!!!!! SGA did his part. In a dream world I wanna see Chet in a different jersey next season. Perhaps Milwaukee 🤔.”
Gonna take a LONG time to get over the play of Chet Holmgren tonight
I mean a LONG time!!!!!
SGA did his part
In a dream world I wanna see Chet in a different jersey next season
Perhaps Milwaukee 🤔— James Sooner Fan (@thunderupjames) May 31, 2026
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga has been ongoing for well over a year, and there is an increasing likelihood that this offseason marks his departure from the Milwaukee Bucks.
While the Thunder have not been closely linked to Antetokounmpo, their Western Conference Finals loss to the Spurs will certainly spark discussions around roster upgrades.
“The most obvious move the Thunder can make is trading Chet Holmgren and picks for Giannis. Wemby isn’t going anywhere and it’s clear he puts Chet into some sort of psychosis. He wasn’t even looking at the rim dude. Sh** was sad,” Joel Moran wrote.
The most obvious move the Thunder can make is trading Chet Holmgren and picks for Giannis.
Wemby isn’t going anywhere and it’s clear he puts Chet into some sort of psychosis. He wasn’t even looking at the rim dude. Shit was sad.
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) May 31, 2026
“Chet Holmgren, enjoy Milwaukee,” one user bluntly remarked.
“chet holmgren needs to learn how to speak milwaukee buck,” NBA reporter claire de lune wrote.
However, the question is whether the Bucks would be interested in Holmgren. He is coming off his first All-Star season, averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 55.7% from the field.
While those numbers are impressive, they may not be enough to replace the impact of a two-time MVP like Antetokounmpo, nor to build a franchise around him as a cornerstone.
“Seeing a lot of tweets of ‘OKC should just flip Chet Holmgren and picks for Giannis. ‘Are we sure Chet is the guy Milwaukee wants to build around after what we just saw?'” Utah Jazz insider Ben Anderson asked.
Seeing a lot of tweets of “OKC should just flip Chet Holmgren and picks for Giannis.”
Are we sure Chet is the guy Milwaukee wants to build around after what we just saw?
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) May 31, 2026
“I mean why the actual f**k would Milwaukee do this? Chet is not a franchise player that you build around, he’s a price of the puzzle, Milwaukee needs a real star level player back because they dont have control of their picks until 2030 & tanking benefits no one anymore,” Williams Newbern posted.
Meanwhile, FS1 analyst Nick Wright wondered whether Anthony Davis might make more sense for the Thunder than Antetokounmpo.
“Chet being a part of a larger package for Giannis is going to be a big topic. But I wonder if Chet for AD (with the Thunder not having to give up any picks) isn’t a more likely trade…,” he wrote.
Chet being a part of a larger package for Giannis is going to be a big topic.
But I wonder if Chet for AD (with the Thunder not having to give up any picks) isn’t a more likely trade…
— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 31, 2026
Regardless of what jersey Holmgren wears next season, the mere possibility of trade speculation surrounding him is concerning for the 24-year-old. He was selected second overall by the Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft and has largely impressed during his time in Oklahoma City.
However, becoming invisible in a must-win playoff game comes with consequences.
Given the money the Thunder are set to commit to him, along with their need to upgrade the roster to contend with Wembanyama and the Spurs, trade discussions will almost certainly continue throughout the offseason.
