Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft this past June, will miss the entire 2022-23 season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, the team announced on Thursday.
“We are disappointed for Chet, especially given the excitement he had about getting on the floor with his teammates this season,” Thunder executive Sam Presti said in a statement. “We know Chet has a long career ahead of him within our organization and the Oklahoma City community. One of the things that most impressed us during the process of selecting Chet was his determination and focus. We expect that same tenacity will carry him through this period of time as we work together and support him during his rehabilitation.”
The injury appeared to occur two minutes into a pro-am game at Seattle Pacific University on Saturday. Holmgren landed awkwardly attempting to defend Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. The 7-foot, 190-pound Gonzaga product limped to midcourt before exiting the game. Former NBA player Jamal Crawford, who hosted the exhibition, canceled the game before halftime due to slippery floor conditions.
“I had to make the decision to stop the game to protect the players,” he said. “Tough, but right decision.”
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