NBA Draft scouting report: Chet Holmgren

After forming the Twin Towers with Drew Timme in Spokane this season with Gonzaga, Chet Holmgren has his sights set the NBA. The freshman star averaged 14.1 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 assists. He shot 60.7% from the floor and converted 41 of his 105 3-point attempts. He converted 72% percent from the charity stripe.

Holmgren was the man in the middle for the Bulldogs, who were No. 1 in the country most of the season. Gonzaga ran through the West Coast Conference with a 13-1 record in conference play and won the tournament championship. The Zags were the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year and had their season come to a close in the Sweet 16.

The 7-foot center scored a career-high 22 points against San Francisco on Jan. 20. He recorded 13 double-doubles this season. He announced his decision to enter the draft April 21.

Measurements

Height: 7 feet

Weight: 190 points

Wingspan: 7 feet, 6 inches

Strengths:

length and agility, 3-point shooting ability

Holmgren’s best trait is his length and agility. For a 7-footer, the freshman can move around the court with incredible grace. He will have the ability to split past slower defenders at the next level. He can move more quickly than many of the other bigs in the NBA.

He can also step outside the shoot from beyond the arc. He shot 39% from deep this season on 105 attempts. The ability step outside with such ease will make him a fit for any NBA franchise. Having a power forward/center shoot nearly 40% from downtown gives the team the ability to spread the floor.

Defensively, the Minnesota native will be a great rim protector. He swatted away nearly four shots a game this season. Even though he matched up against much smaller opposition in the WCC, his timing ability translates to the next level.

Areas to improve:

weight, durability

Holmgren needs to bulk up and put weight on. Standing at 7-feet tall and weighing only 190 pounds, he is going to pushed around at the next level. Adding muscle to his lanky frame will do him a world of good when matching up with the likes of Zion Williamson, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and others.

The added weight will add his durability. By putting on muscle, he will not get a bruised and bodied down low. Holmgren has the skills, he just needs to fill out his frame to make him the complete package.

Projected draft range: top-3 pick

Holmgren seems slated to go No. 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to NBA.com. His skill down low will complement the games of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Georgios Kalaitzakis. Holmgren gives OKC a consistent inside presence and a post player that can stretch the floor. The Thunder a looking for a dominant big, and this Zag is exactly what they need.