Chet Holmgren Defended by Thunder's Sam Presti amid Trade Speculation After Loss to Wemby, Spurs

Chet Holmgren had a Western Conference Finals to forget during a seven-game loss to the San Antonio Spurs, but Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti still believes in the big man.

"He drives winning on so many different levels for us," Presti told reporters Monday. "He's a first-time All-Star, second in Defensive Player of the Year, third-team All-NBA. We were sweeping our way to the Western Conference finals primarily because of his efforts in the [Lakers] series."

There is no doubting Holmgren's list of accomplishments from the 2025-26 campaign, as he received all that recognition Presti listed while averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game and shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from deep.

But the questions came from his performance against the Spurs.

Spurs-Thunder Highlights

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Holmgren seemed hesitant to attack Victor Wembanyama throughout the series and finished the decisive Game 7 with a mere four points and four rebounds on two field-goal attempts. With Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined by injuries, the Thunder needed their big man to play at a much higher level to advance.

Instead, he averaged 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds a night in the series and shot just three total three-pointers in the final four games.

Holmgren received plenty of criticism for his play, although Presti doesn't believe he will let that linger heading into next season.

"This is a guy that is intrinsically motivated," Presti said. "He doesn't need people questioning him or things on the internet to drive his improvement. ... He doesn't need somebody to nudge him, he doesn't need somebody to question him. It's just kind of how he's wired. So I'm not really that concerned about him."

Presti also called Holmgren "one of our guys," which was notable since there was no shortage of trade speculation in the immediate aftermath of the loss.

With a player such as Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially available this offseason, the Thunder may have to do their due diligence as they eye a return to the NBA mountaintop next season.

But Presti, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and head coach Mark Daigneault have all expressed their support for Holmgren after his disappointing performance against the Spurs. While that doesn't rule out a possible trade, it seems like the team still plans on having their big man back next season with the hope he bounces back from the loss.