Thunder C Chet Holmgren cleared to return vs. Raptors

The NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder are set to bring a sizeable piece back into the fold.

Star big man Chet Holmgren is no longer listed on the Thunder’s injury report, clearing the way for him to return to game action on Friday against the Toronto Raptors in Oklahoma City.

And if that wasn’t clear enough, Holmgren took to social media to announce the news himself. “I’m back,” was the signature Holmgren used on a TikTok video he posted Thursday.

The 22-year-old sophomore played in ten games this season prior to being sidelined with a right iliac fracture after taking a hard fall when attempting to contest a shot at the rim against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 10.

Holmgren is averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks — very close to his rookie season averages of 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks, which saw him finish second in Rookie of the Year voting to the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.

The seven-foot-one frontcourt player is also a career 37 per cent three-point shooter on 4.2 attempts per game, making him one of the few bigs in the league that can both stretch the floor with their outside shooting and protect the rim.

The Thunder will look to reintegrate Holmgren into a roster that has gone 32-7 in his absence, and 6-4 with both Holmgren and fellow big man Isaiah Hartenstein out of the lineup.

For a team that has been forced to play smaller lineups frequently this season due to injury, the Thunder will now have the option to throw jumbo-sized units at opposing teams with both seven-footers healthy for the first time.

The Raptors will potentially be the first team to get a look at that on Friday, when they take on the Thunder at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet.

— With files from the Associated Press