21-year-old Chet Holmgren continues to make waves in his first year in the league. The towering rookie’s prowess in shot-blocking has managed to break his opponents as well as records. The well-rounded skills and impactful contributions of the big man have garnered attention and solidified his status as a Rookie of the Year frontrunner. He is up for the Defensive Player of the Year too. And now, he is on the same list as NBA icon Tim Duncan.

In the Oklahoma City Thunder’s showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies, he blocked 7 shots. He also recorded eight blocks during OKC’s victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. He became the first rookie since Tim Duncan to have back-to-back 6-block games.

The 21-year-old is averaging a higher BPG than the San Antonio Spurs legend did in his rookie year. Holmgren ranks third in the league with 2.8 blocks per game, while Duncan has averaged 2.5 blocks per game in 1997-98. 

Another intriguing factor about the rookie is that he appears to be determined to amass more achievements in his upcoming games. Duncan had his second-most blocks in a season during his rookie year. He blocked 206 shots in his rookie season and 237 in 2002-03. Holmgren currently has 64 blocks.

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Chet Holmgren emerges as a strong Rookie of the Year Candidate 

Drafted 2nd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren’s rookie season was sidelined by a lengthy injury, leading to his official rookie year being his supposed sophomore season. At 21, he’s now demonstrating the prowess that was unfortunately missed last year.

On top of his defensive prowess, the Gonzaga alumnus has also showcased his offensive abilities. With a multitude of scoring options, Holmgren is averaging 16.9 points along with 8.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting efficiently from the floor as well. The sky is the limit for the 21-year-old and the Thunder will be licking their lips with the potential of their roster.

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What are your thoughts on this? Do you think Holmgren will come anywhere close to matching the great Tim Duncan’s legacy? Let us know in the comments below.