Where is Chet Holmgren from? Hometown, college and more to know about Minnesota roots

The Thunder used the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to select Chet Holmgren. The center was coming off a successful career at Gonzaga and stuck out on the court given his 7-1, 208 lb. frame. 

Holmgren has developed into an important anchor for Oklahoma City. After missing his rookie season due to injury, he has taken the league by storm, averaging at least 15 points per game and eight rebounds. Holmgren has struggled with injuries early on, missing 132 of the possible 246 games he could have played since being drafted. Still, he is a difference maker when he is on the court for OKC and is part of their dominant tandem along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that led them on a deep playoff run in 2025. 

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Here is more on where Holmgren is from and where he went to college. 

Where is Chet Holmgren from?

Holmgren was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 1, 2002. He stayed local to the Minneapolis area growing up, and started attending Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis in the sixth grade. Holmgren went to high school and eventually college with Magic guard Jalen Suggs. When he was a freshman in high school, Holmgren was already 6-9. 

While in high school, he was named Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American and Minnesota Mr. Basketball. Holmgren was ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2021 class after Jonathan Kuminga reclassified. 

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Where did Chet Holmgren go to college?

Holmgren had about 30 scholarship offers from the top college basketball programs in the nation. He decided to attend powerhouse Gonzaga. Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game as a freshman for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga went 28-4 overall and 13-1 in the WCC in the 2021-2022 season. The Bulldogs made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, but were knocked off by 4-seed Arkansas, 74-68.

Holmgren decided to forego his remaining eligibility and was one-and-done, declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft. 

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Chet Holmgren's dad 

Holmgren's father Dave is also tall, standing 7-0.

Dave played college basketball at the University of Minnesota and kept his family in the local area. Dave coached Chet in basketball when he was growing up. 

Chet Holmgren stats

Here are Holmgren's per-game stats from his NBA career. 

*Holmgren missed the entirety of the 2022-2023 season do to a Lisfranc injury suffered ahead of the regular season.
**Holmgren missed 3 months of action in the 2024-2025 season due to a right iliac wing fracture in his pelvis.