Chet Holmgren. Image via: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren will miss eight to 10 weeks with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his right knee, the Thunder announced Friday night. The center had a procedure that day to avoid surgery, and the timeline points to a return in early 2027. Eight to 10 weeks puts the 7-footer back on the floor in the first couple of weeks of 2027. He was averaging 12.0 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. Last season he put up 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, and earned first-team All-Defensive and third-team All-NBA honors.
Oklahoma City has lost a third starter to a significant injury in a single week.
By Friday the team decided to “perform a biological treatment today to address a small patellar tendon tear,” according to its statement. A league source told NBC Sports the treatment is likely platelet-rich plasma therapy, a common option across pro sports that spares a player the more invasive repair. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace went down last Sunday and have both had operations since. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now heads into November with a thinner lineup around him and a lot more to carry. Holmgren saw several specialists after feeling mild discomfort last Sunday. The team called the procedure successful.