Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is challenging San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama for the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year honors, but not everyone is ready to shower the 21-year-old with praise.
During a recent episode of The BIG Podcast, Shaquille O’Neal addressed Holmgren’s standout rookie season, but flinched at guest Adam Lefkoe calling the Thunder center “phenomenal.”
O’Neal fought back on the notion that Holmgren was a phenomenal player, suggesting the former No. 2 pick had not yet earned such a significant label.
“Don’t do that. Don’t do that. Do not do that. I hate when y’all do that,” said Shaq after Lefkoe called Holmgren phenomenal. “You’re throwing around words that we had to work hard for. Phenomenal is not the right word.”
Shaq is not ready to call Chet Holmgren a great player after two or three good games
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 4, 2024
“You’re throwing out words that we had to work hard for.”
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/Fq8UjW2LsB) pic.twitter.com/RxFVVLfRff
“He’s good, but don’t be going promising, and great, and future Hall of Famer. Starting today I’m putting an end to all that. Y’all can’t just be giving these people things that ain’t put in no work. Phenomenal is the wrong word. And you can’t use dominant unless he does it for a consistent amount of time. I’m not talking 2-3 games, I’m talking years.”
Holmgren, who missed the entire season in 2022-23 after suffering a foot injury during the offseason, has gotten off to a strong start in 2023-24. In 33 games, he’s averaged 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, while shooting at a highly efficient 40.7% clip from three-point range.
While it’s been a brilliant start to his career, O’Neal isn’t ready to describe Holmgren as “phenomenal,” suggesting that Oklahoma City’s rookie had plenty left to prove before being deserving of that tag.
