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Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti defended star big man Chet Holmgren following a disappointing postseason performance, specifically in the Western Conference Finals.
Presti spoke to reporters on Monday for the end-of-season media availability.
He touched on a ton of topics, including Holmgren and his struggles. Presti went on to defend the young All-Star, saying that despite not having a great series, it doesn't reflect the type of player he is.
"He didn’t have a great series in the last series," Presti said. "If you go back and look at some of the greatest players of the game, they all have these moments where they run into defeat or struggle. That's what makes them great players is that they're able to continue to move on from that and improve."
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
It's safe to say Holmgren's numbers were not up to par in the playoffs compared to the regular season. In 15 playoff games, he averaged 14.9 points per game, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 30.6 minutes of action.
Chet Holmgren’s playoff struggles raise questions for Thunder
What stuck out to most was his performance against the San Antonio Spurs and specifically against Victor Wembanyama in the conference finals. For the most part, Holmgren was nonexistent in the series, especially in Game 7.
That game was by far his worst performance as he recorded four points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 33 minutes of action.
Throughout the series, the All-Star center looked hesitant and was physically overpowered and struggled mightily against Wembanyama. The 24-year-old's future with the team has become a topic of discussion as the Thunder enter a crucial offseason.
Many expected the Thunder to repeat as champions, but after falling short of those expectations, the organization now faces some important questions about the direction of the roster moving forward.
Significant conversations will need to take place regarding the team's long-term outlook and how best to position itself for another championship run.
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