Chet Holmgren
A uniquely skilled seven-foot-tall basketball phenom who silenced doubters about his slender frame by becoming a defensive anchor and champion for a rising NBA powerhouse.
Born 2002 (age 24)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 1·Generation Z
Biography
Chet Holmgren's basketball journey has been a story of defying physical expectations. Entering the national spotlight as a lanky, shot-blocking high school prodigy in Minnesota, his unprecedented blend of guard skills for a player his size made him the top recruit in his class. At Gonzaga, he showcased his versatile game in a single dominant season. Drafted second overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, his professional debut was delayed a full year by a foot injury, fueling questions about his durability. He answered them emphatically, winning Rookie of the Year honors and immediately transforming the Thunder's defense with his rim protection and perimeter mobility. His rapid ascent culminated in helping lead a young Oklahoma City team to an NBA championship, solidifying his place as a transformative modern big man.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Chet was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chet Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Chet's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He was the consensus number one overall recruit in the high school class of 2021.
- He was selected 2nd overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft.
- He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team for the 2023-24 season.
- He won an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025.
Did You Know?
In high school, he famously crossed over and stepped over NBA star Stephen Curry during a camp game.
He played alongside top draft pick Paolo Banchero on the same AAU basketball team.
He is known for having an extremely slender build for an NBA center, listed at 7'1" and 195 lbs as a rookie.
“I'm not trying to be a unicorn; I'm trying to be a winner.”
