Every NBA observer is aware of how strong Oklahoma City’s defense was during the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n
Led by First-Team All-Defense honoree Lu Dort, who was flanked by Second-Team All-Defense representative Jalen Williams and former All-Defensive team member Alex Caruso, among others.<\/p>\n
The group’s elite defense helped the Thunder to 68 wins in the regular season and the franchise’s first-ever NBA title. OKC’s impressive defensive effort last year came without star big man Chet Holmgren, who returned for the group’s postseason run.<\/p>\n
While Holmgren couldn’t quite find his footing on offense after missing 50 regular season games with a hip injury, the former No. 2 overall selection was crucial to the Thunder’s defense in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Against the Indiana Pacers, Holmgren set a new Game 7 NBA Finals record with 5 blocks, helping the Thunder to a win in the series.<\/p>\n
Holmgren’s ability to slot back into the team’s defensive structure shouldn’t be surprising, as he was one of the NBA’s best defensive players last year before suffering an injury. According to a recent study from Todd Whitehead at Sportradar, Holmgren led the NBA in ‘points erased’ during the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n
Whitehead descibes the stat as, “the closest defender on two-point shots. Measured as the average reduction in (expected possesion value) during the final second before the player he was guarding took a shot (totaled up across all the shots he defended in an average game).”<\/p>\n
Last season’s leaders in Points Erased* as the closest defender on two-point shots.<\/p>\n
*Measured as the average reduction in EPV during the final second before the player he was guarding took a shot (totaled up across all the shots he defended in an average game). pic.twitter.com\/P4XLEdIq0K<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama, Donovan Clingan, Daniel Gafford, Brook Lopez, Walker Kessler, Isaiah Stewart, Rudy Gobert, Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, Ivica Zubac and Evan Mobley joined Holmgren on the list.<\/p>\n In 32 games during the 2024-25 season, Holmgren averaged 2.2 blocks per contest, anchoring the Thunder’s stout defense when healthy. This year, those numbers have taken a slight dip, as the 23-year-old is averaging 1.3 blocks per game.<\/p>\n Blocks, of course, aren’t the only way to alter shots, and Holmgren still has plenty of games left to increase his statistical count. Additionally, Holmgren is averaging a steal per game to start the 2025-26 season, which would be a new career high for the Gonzaga product.<\/p>\n After helping the Thunder win a title, Holmgren was awarded a rookie maximum contract extension over the offseason that should keep him in Oklahoma City past 2030. Even during games when Holmgren’s shot isn’t falling, his defensive ability should make him a valuable player for the Thunder throughout the life of his contract.<\/p>\n Want to join the discussion? Like\u00a0Thunder on SI<\/a>\u00a0on Facebook and\u00a0follow us on Twitter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also\u00a0meet the team<\/a>\u00a0behind the coverage.<\/p>\n