Entering the Western Conference semifinal series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, all eyes were on the MVPs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having his best postseason campaign thus far and could very well be the 14th back-to-back NBA MVP. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic remains sidelined due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain that abruptly ended an MVP-esque run late in the regular season. And yet in a series defined by who is there and who isn’t, it was Chet Holmgren who barged into the conversation. 

Most of the possessions Holmgren scored on felt like a punishment for the Lakers. A breakdown on defense, a slow recovery in transition, or a costly foul were among the moments that Holmgren chose to throw down dunks or convert on 3-pointers that set the tone for the Thunder’s 108-90 series opening victory. 

Holmgren’s big game could not have come at a better time, as OKC was happy to have taken advantage not just of Doncic’s absence, but also the relatively quiet game from Gilgeous-Alexander (18 points, six assists, a steal, and two blocks). Los Angeles made quite the effort to limit the Thunder damage from the perimeter, but their frontcourt committed nine of their 16 total fouls and the loss of Jarred Vanderbilt to a gruesome finger dislocation only made matters worse. 

Gilgeous-Alexander will naturally have a big game in their series, but the outcome of this series will also depend on how Holmgren builds on this performance. He’s a unicorn in this era of basketball and OKC deploying him in various ways will force the Lakers to adjust their approach, which should open up mismatch opportunities. That’s the thing about versatility: you can read about it and draw up plans for it, but when spontaneity takes over, it throws off preparation. 

Injuries have often put Holmgren in what-if conversations, but when healthy, he can be what other franchises and big men dream of. He’s comfortable stepping out into the perimeter whether that’s on offense or defense and while that has drawn comparisons to a former Thunder player in Kevin Durant, it’s clear that Holmgren is his own man. He’s more defensive-oriented than the two-time NBA champion, but given that he’s only 24 years old, Holmgren has plenty of opportunities to catch up. 

Given his abilities, Chet Holmgren seems to have no problem taking on a supporting role when it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s time to shine. Holmgren executes his role to a tee and when moments such as Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals comes along, he’s more than ready to step up. In reality, though, times like these aren’t calling for MVPs; they seek winners and Holmgren has slowly but surely proven he’s one of them.