Chet Holmgren set to return to NBA-best Thunder

FILE – Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) plays in the second half of an NBA basketball game Nov. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren announced his return to the court on social media Thursday.

“I’m back,” he wrote on Instagram.

The 7-foot-1 Holmgren has been sidelined since Nov. 10 due to a pelvic fracture suffered in a hard fall in a game against the Golden State Warriors.

READ: NBA: Chet Holmgren to miss at least 8 weeks with pelvic fracture

The Thunder removed Holmgren from the injury report, putting him in line to return Friday against the visiting Toronto Raptors.

Holmgren, 22, is averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 10 games this season.

The injury was the second significant one in the young career of Holmgren, who was selected by Oklahoma City with the second overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. He missed the 2022-23 season due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot.

Holmgren debuted last season and was runner-up for NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in 82 starts. He became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 150 assists, 150 blocks and 100 made 3-pointers in a season.

Even without Holmgren in the lineup, the Thunder have the NBA’s best record at 40-9 (.816). –Field Level Media