Chet Holmgren Out 8 to 10 Weeks With Knee Tear

Chet Holmgren is the latest Thunder star to go down. Oklahoma City said Friday night that its 7-footer will miss eight to 10 weeks after a biological treatment to address a small patellar tendon tear in his right knee.

That makes three Thunder starters out for an extended stretch in less than a week. Jalen Williams (fractured fibula, dislocated ankle) and Cason Wallace (torn labrum) were both hurt in Sunday's win over the Clippers, and both needed surgery. Williams had his operation Wednesday and Wallace had his Friday, and the team said both will be reevaluated before the end of the regular season. For a team that has started 4-1, this is a lot of talent on the sideline at once.

What the Thunder Said

Holmgren felt mild discomfort in his right knee on Oct. 25, the same day Williams and Wallace were hurt. After meeting with specialists, the team decided on the treatment Friday, and the Thunder said it was successful and that he is expected to make a full recovery.

It is not the first long layoff for him. Holmgren missed his entire first season after breaking his foot weeks after the 2022 draft, then missed a few months of the 2024-25 season with a fractured pelvis before coming back for the title run.

What OKC Loses

Last season Holmgren averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks and made third-team All-NBA and first-team All-Defensive. He is the rim protector the whole defense is built around, and there is no easy replacement on the roster.

The roster crunch showed up right away. The Thunder even backed off a deal. They had agreed Friday to sign free agent Ochai Agbaji for the open roster spot, but after the Holmgren news they decided to step back and reevaluate, ESPN's Shams Charania reported. Agbaji's health was not a factor.

The Timeline

Eight weeks from Friday lands right around Christmas, and 10 weeks pushes into early January. Until then, Oklahoma City has to hold the fort, starting tonight at 5:30 PM PT (8:30 PM ET) in Houston against a Rockets team that is 5-1.

My Smacktok lean: do not count on Holmgren before late December. The team's own timeline is eight to 10 weeks, and the Thunder have already shown they will be careful, so plan your picks around a Thunder frontcourt without him for the next two months.