The Oklahoma City Thunder have a clear offseason priority, and it is not just about adding talent. They need to make sure Chet Holmgren is ready to answer when the pressure rises again, because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cannot afford another playoff stretch where he has to do everything.
That concern comes straight out of the Western Conference finals, where Holmgren faded badly while SGA kept the offense alive. thunderousintentions.com framed the issue as a mental one, arguing that Oklahoma City has to strengthen Holmgren’s confidence if it wants to avoid a repeat.
Holmgren disappeared when the matchup got tight
Holmgren was healthy and on the floor, but he was not producing in a way that helped the Thunder sustain offense. The problem was not availability, but effectiveness, as he looked taken out of the game while SGA carried the load.
The series also showed how quickly Holmgren’s confidence can slip when he is challenged by Victor Wembanyama. On possessions where he faced Wemby with the ball in his hands, he repeatedly lost control or ended up on the floor, a sign that the matchup may have gotten into his head.
Why Oklahoma City needs more from him next season
With Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined in that run, Gilgeous-Alexander had to shoulder the offense almost alone. He got only small bursts of help from other rotation players, which made Holmgren’s quiet series even more costly.
The Thunder need Holmgren to be more aggressive and more reliable as a secondary scorer. When Williams is healthy, he may even slide into a tertiary role, but the baseline expectation stays the same: he has to stay engaged and ready to shoot.
That is why Oklahoma City’s offseason work on Holmgren is being framed around mentality rather than skill alone. He cannot afford to let another defender, or another matchup, remove him from the offense before the series is even decided.
SGA needs a steadier partner
For Gilgeous-Alexander, the stakes are simple. If Holmgren disappears again in the playoffs, the burden on SGA becomes far too heavy for the Thunder’s long-term plans.
Oklahoma City’s challenge is to make sure Holmgren plays with confidence, looks for his own shots, and stays unafraid when the game turns physical. If they can do that, SGA should have the support he needed in the West finals but did not consistently get.