Thunder’s future star in making? The Story of How Chet Holmgren's Impressive Come Back Game.

Chet Holmgren has finally returned to the court for Oklahoma City. The young star, who was picked by the Thunder with the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, played his first game in almost a year at the Salt Lake City Summer League on Monday night. And he was amazing.

Holmgren, who sat out the whole 2022-23 season with a foot injury, looked like he never left as he scored 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and blocked six shots in 29 minutes. He made 9-of-16 shots, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and showed his rare mix of height, skill and talent on both sides of the court.

The seven-footer was especially good on defense, where he used his long arms and quick reactions to stop shots, steal passes and guard the rim. He had four blocks in the first half alone, including a two-handed swat of Keyonte George’s drive that told the Jazz: Stay away from Chet.

The Thunder easily beat the Jazz, 95-85, thanks to a strong team effort and a good shooting night from deep. They were up by 20 points in the fourth quarter, before the Jazz made a late comeback to make it closer. But it was not enough for Utah, who did not have their best rookie Taylor Hendricks and had trouble with Holmgren and his teammates.

Holmgren was not the only Thunder player who did well on Monday night. Theo Maledon, who came second for Rookie of the Year last season, had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Josh Giddey, who was drafted by OKC with the 12th pick this year, added 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his first game. And Aaron Wiggins, who was signed to a two-way deal by OKC after going undrafted, chipped in 13 points off the bench.

The Jazz were led by Ochai Agbaji and George, who had 17 and 18 points respectively. Luka Semanic also had 13 points and six rebounds for Utah.

Holmgren’s game on Monday night was a great sight for Thunder fans, who have been waiting to see him play since he hurt his foot last August. Holmgren was one of the most exciting prospects in a long time, after leading Gonzaga to a perfect regular season and a national title game appearance in his only college season. He averaged 18.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.3 blocks per game for the Bulldogs, while shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three.

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He was seen as a once-in-a-lifetime talent and a possible star for OKC, who traded up to get him with the second pick. But his rookie season ended before it started, when he injured his foot while guarding LeBron James in an offseason Pro-Am event. He had surgery in September and spent the next 10 months getting better.

“It was hard,” Holmgren said after the game. “But I had a great support system around me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches. They all helped me get through it.”

Holmgren said he felt “great” physically and mentally on Monday night, and that he was happy to be back on the court with his teammates.

“It was great to be back with these guys man. I love all of them. Let’s keep working,” he said.

Holmgren also said he was not worried about any expectations or pressure that come with being a high draft pick and a potential star.

“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff,” he said. “I just focus on what I can control: my work ethic, my attitude, my effort. I just try to be the best version of myself every day.”

Holmgren will have more chances to show his skills and prove himself at the NBA Summer League, which continues this week in Utah and Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas next week. He will face some of the best young players in the league, including Cade Cunningham (No. 1 pick by Detroit), Jalen Green (No. 3 pick by Houston) and Evan Mobley (No. 4 pick by Cleveland).

Holmgren said he is excited for it.

“It’s always fun to play against the best. It’s a great challenge and a great opportunity to grow as a player.”

Holmgren’s return is also a big boost for the Thunder, who are rebuilding and have collected a lot of draft picks and young talent. Holmgren is expected to be a key part of their future, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Aleksej Pokusevski and others. The Thunder are hoping that Holmgren can become a superstar and lead them back to the top in the West.

Based on his game on Monday night, Holmgren is on his way to fulfilling that potential. He showed that he is ready to make his mark in the NBA, and that he is not scared of any challenge or obstacle.

He is back, and he is better than ever. And the Thunder are happy to have him.

The Thunder defeated the Jazz 95 - 85 on Monday night to kick up the Salt Lake Summer League.

Stay tuned for the upcoming blog on "The 2023-24 Rookie of the Year battle between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren" this is going to be intense.