Game 7 is a time for inspired basketball and for much of the first half of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers were doing just that.
The Pacers raced to a 48-47 halftime lead despite losing Tyrese Haliburton in the first quarter to what is looking like a right Achilles injury. Indiana had turned a devastating moment into fuel for a potentially monumental upset. That was, until Chet Holmgren put together a block party.
Holmgren did more than just swat shots in the title decider, but his five blocks were his biggest contributions to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle. The former Gonzaga Bulldog turned out to be the defensive anchor the Pacers thought they had in Myles Turner, who looked tentative and lost when his team needed him the most.
Indiana had hoped to run circles around the Thunder, but with the way Holmgren altered shots, the Pacers had to think twice before stepping into the paint. The 23-year old was seemingly immune from switches as he quickly recovered and shut down Indiana’s interior offense even when OKC’s lead grew. Moreover, Holmgren covered so much ground that it allowed the Thunder’s perimeter defenders to stick with their assignments and pretty much shut down passing lanes that had made the Pacers a dangerous foe.
Looking at the bigger picture, this was the culmination of Holmgren’s growth thus far in his young career. The second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft battled various injuries, some major in nature, others freak injuries. He missed a ton of games and had to sit out as OKC won and lost games he knew he could make a big impact on. He must have poured out his frustrations in his rehab stints as his returns have looked as if he had never sat out for a long time.
As effective as Holmgren has been for the Thunder, he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. Holmgren belongs to the second-youngest NBA champion in history (25.6 years, just behind the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers), and so titles are likely to come barring major injuries or disruptive roster shakeups. The Minnesota native will also continue to refine his game, whether that means refining his offensive repertoire or becoming even more patient on the defensive end. An opportunity to take the leap is there for the taking, but in reality, health should be a priority for Holmgren.
Playing 82 games like in 2023-2024 may not be in the cards next season for Chet Holmgren, but if he can play around 70 games, that should bode well for him and OKC. Right now, though, Holmgren should bask in the championship glory he rightly earned because moments like this will inspire him to chase more NBA title dreams down the road.
