Dec 23, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots between \Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Chet Holmgren made the headlines in the recent home game for the Oklahoma City Thunder as his endeavors embarrassed LeBron James. The 21-year-old blocked the Los Angeles Lakers talisman catching the attention of all the viewers of the match. Following this, NBA Twitter even poked fun at the 38-year-old as they let him know of the changing times around the league.

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After a 36-39 scoreline at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers needed a moment of inspiration to put an end to their four-game losing streak. Thus, from the start of the second quarter, the visiting side adopted a more aggressive approach against the in-form hosts. After finally taking the lead, James decided to take matters into his own hands as he attempted to further increase it.

The small forward penetrated into the paint from the high post before receiving a pass from D’Angelo Russell. With his two decades of experience, the 4x champion made his marker commit a block before going around him to score a layup. The setup was executed to near perfection as the away team looked set to score.

However, Chet had other plans as he arrived at the spot to protect the rim from the opponent. The center blocked the effort from LeBron, showcasing his game-reading prowess while helping his side stitch together a quick counter. With approximately nine minutes left in that quarter, the moment turned into a pivotal one as it restricted the deficit to five by keeping the scoreline at 44-49.

Chet’s action to move in and block James’s move at the rim does a brilliant job of demonstrating his defensive timing and IQ. The 7ft 1″ young man has been pivotal in the OKC Thunder riding as high as they have this season. Holmgren is one of the biggest reasons why the Thunder have the sixth-best defensive ranking in the entire league this season, something that is in turn, a massive contributor to their third seed status in the West.

Holmgren’s desire became the highlight of the match as fans of the league took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their thoughts. One supporter hinted at the rise of young talents in the NBA using an iconic scene from ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ as a reference.

“The future is now old man!”

This was a clear indication to LeBron James’ old age compared to the rest of the NBA. James, 38 at the moment, may still be very close to his best. However, even he has a lot of adjusting to do, when it comes to the new age of unicorns that the league is currently in the middle of.

Another put the limelight on the growth of Chet as he received an injury the last time he tried to block James’ layup. “All ball no injuries,” the follower declared upon witnessing the block from the 7’1 youngster.

Chet Holmgren’s ability to not only stay healthy but have a positive impact against a team as physical as the Lakers shows just how far he has come since his injury. The 21-year-old has clearly worked on packing in serious muscle since the tragic moment for him. And now because of it, he has boosted OKC’s chances at an NBA title in the very near future.

The rise of Chet Holmgren following his injury last year

The Thunder franchise had displayed an immense amount of faith in the Minnesota-born while drafting him in 2022. They selected him as the second overall pick in the first round, as the organization continued with its rebuild. Sadly, while playing in a pro-am game before the start of last season, he received an injury to his right foot while contesting LeBron. It sidelined him for an entire campaign, as the newcomer had to wait to make his debut in Oklahoma.

Following this, it has all panned out well this season for him and his team as they emerge as a potent force in the West. Holmgren had a major role to play in that averaging 17.2-7.9-2.5 in his rookie year while registering 2.7 blocks per game. His shooting skills have also received praise as he is scoring 53.1% from the field.

Thus, despite a rocky start to his NBA career, Chet has made an astonishing comeback. His endeavors have solidified his spot in the race for the Rookie of the Year as the Thunder supporters rely on him to produce miracles.