Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti said this week that there is a possibility that rookie Chet Holmgren will play with the team in summer league in July.
Holmgren missed the season after undergoing surgery in August to address a Lisfranc injury in his right foot. He went under the knife again in December in a scheduled procedure to remove hardware from his foot and is currently progressing in his rehabilitation.
The second pick was seen doing various exercises and on-court drills toward the end of the season. He said last week that he is beginning 5-on-5 exercises now and is working out with virtually no restrictions at this point of the process.
Presti, speaking at his end-of-season press conference on Thursday, said Holmgren is in a good spot in his recovery and the team is eager to watch him continue to take steps forward.
They will decide on his status for summer league at a later time.
We’ll see when we get to that point if he is at that point where we feel good about making that decision. I wouldn’t say he wouldn’t (play) but it is very possible that he does (play). He has got a lot of time before now and then. He’ll want to play, for sure, because he’ll play anywhere at any time but it is just a matter of if it is the right thing, physically, at that point.
Holmgren echoed that statement last week when asked about playing: “I’m focused on following the plan we have in place. When that comes and if it’s part of the plan, I’ll follow the plan like I have up until this point.”
The Thunder will once again participate in two summer leagues this year. They played in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas last year as Holmgren was among those players that suited up. He averaged 14 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.6 steals in five games.
Holmgren has impressed those around him throughout his rehab process. He had the full support of the team and will be looking to continue to attack it each day heading into the offseason.
“The day-to-day approach that’s necessary to come back from something like that is one thing (but) walking into a building where you’re seeing everything that you want happen in front of you every single day and still stay that distant, not many people do that,” Presti said. “I feel good about that one. He has got a mind that’s different on that level.”
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Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire