Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault may have just given Chet Holmgren his new nickname, whether intentional or not during a recent interview with ESPN.
As Daigneault praised Holmgren for versatility on both ends of the floor, the one-time NBA Coach of the Year winner described the former No. 2 pick as a “praying mantis.”
“The first impression I had of him that really jumped out, I’d probably take it for granted now, is his closing speed on balls,” Daigneault said of Holmgren via Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “There’s plays that you don’t think he can get to, and then it’s like he’s a praying mantis. He is just on top of the ball out of nowhere.”
Chet Holmgren has lived up to his “praying mantis” moniker by Mark Daigneault because he is averaging 22.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and a league-leading 3.5 blocks in four regular season games so far this year. He also shoots 58.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point land.
Chet Holmgren wins the latest Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs duel
The Oklahoma City Thunder won their fourth consecutive game to open their 2024-25 NBA campaign after beating the San Antonio Spurs 105-93 on Wednesday evening.
Chet Holmgren won this round against his taller counterpart, Victor Wembanyama. He had 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks on 7-for-10 shooting, while the Frenchman only recorded six points on 1-for-5 shooting, his career low.
