Chet Holmgren Joins the Elites Before 23 Years Old

Chet Holmgren, at 22 years old, achieved a rare statistical feat in the 2025 NBA playoffs, recording 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks in a single game, joining an elite group of players—Dwight Howard, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Amar’e Stoudemire—who accomplished this before age 23.

Holmgren, drafted second overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022, has quickly emerged as a defensive force, with his 5 blocks in the playoff game aligning with his college stats at Gonzaga, where he averaged 3.7 blocks per game as a freshman.

This performance underscores the Thunder’s strategic focus on versatile, rim-protecting big men, a trend in the NBA where players like Holmgren, who also shot 47.2% from the field in this game, are redefining the center role with both offensive and defensive impact.