Chet Holmgren averaged 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in this year’s NBA playoffs, ranking 45th, 12th and fourth in the three statistical categories, respectively. Granted, those numbers don’t jump off the page or seem worthy of a player warranting a maximum-level contract, but Holmgren’s impact on a game goes far beyond the traditional box score. Holmgren, who led all Thunder players in plus/minus en route to the NBA title, was the team’s best all-around defender through 23 playoff games. In the Finals, he held his center matchup, Myles Turner, to 26.7 percent shooting, while also slowing down perimeter-oriented players like Pascal Siakam (40.9 percent), Aaron Nesmith (20 percent) and Bennedict Mathurin (33.3 percent) with his ability to guard all five players on the floor. He similarly caused havoc on Julius Randle (33.3 percent), Aaron Gordon (34.8 percent), Jaden McDaniels (26.3 percent) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (30.8 percent) in the previous rounds. His most impressive feat was holding Jamal MurRead More
Ignore the stats, Chet Holmgren earned his max extension
