Chet Holmgren’s scoring hasn’t been the same since the All-Star Break, and it seems that he’s not standing out as a good first scoring option as well. So far, we’re seeing his numbers regress on the offensive end, which has been quite a bummer considering he just became a first-time All-Star this season.

Holmgren hasn’t been the same efficient player he has been for most of the season. It’s been an inconsistent set of games from him after the All-Star Game, and it says a lot about his level of play heading into the March gauntlet of games and the following playoffs.

At this point, one can say that Holmgren isn’t really great as a first-scoring option. He’s not capable of playing big numbers without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams leading the charge. In fact, in recent games without the duo, he’s still struggling to find a better scoring groove.

For starters, Holmgren averages 15 points in games without SGA and a meager 16 points without J-Dub. That’s definitely disappointing for someone who’s expected to take over the scoring duties for OKC. The fact that he gets outscored by the likes of Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and even Jared McCain is strong proof that Holmgren may not be a promising option on the scoring end without his co-stars.

Holmgren Post-ASG is in a Slump

And even with those meager numbers without two of the Thunder’s best players, Holmgren is supposed to be doing worse. However, not everyone benefits from the All-Star Break. So far, Holmgren is averaging 14.2 points on 46.7% shooting. That’s a major far cry from his usual 55.1% shooting for the whole season.

In fact, he went 4-for-10 from the field in the Thunder’s recent win against the Bulls. What’s even worse is that he is now shooting 5-of-16 from three since the All-Star break. His shooting continues to worsen as he’s gotten better on the inside, which is definitely not something that you should expect from a star like him.

In fact, in all six games since the All-Star break, Holmgren has not scored more than 20 points at the very least. The closest he’s been was 19 points against Dallas, but he did not get double-digit rebounds in that win. It seems that whenever he’s scoring big, he’s not getting aggressive on the boards. While a balanced game from him delivers more control on the glass, such as the win against Cleveland (17 points, 15 rebounds) and Denver (15 points, 21 rebounds).

Balanced Chet May Be What the Thunder Needs

Chet Holmgren is a promising defender for the Thunder, and we all know why he’s still the best candidate to win the Defensive Player of the Year. But what goes underrated is the balance that he brings to the table for the defending champions. If you are not impressed, they have a 16-6 record this season whenever he grabs 10 rebounds or more. That goes for a 44-14 overall for his whole career as well.

There’s a reason why the Thunder are still a promising team without its best players. They have a talented bench. However, we all know that OKC is a much different team to look out for when they are playing at full strength. We’re seeing the versions of Holmgren on both sides. The fact that he’s still able to play at his best with his defense is admirable.

Long story short, this just means that OKC should be feared when they get back all of their best players. For what it’s worth Holmgren is not afraid to step up when they need him most, even when he’s not the first scoring option.