The NBA Draft Lottery was held Tuesday night, with the Orlando Magic winning the top spot in this year’s NBA Draft. For the last few months, there has reportedly been a very clear top three. Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. and Duke’s Paolo Banchero.
For much of the season, it was believed that Holmgren was the sure-fire top pick. Those thoughts certainly permeated into the mind of the Gonzaga star. Recently Holmgren was asked who he thought the best player in the NBA is. His response was a bit surprising.
Chet Holmgren was asked who he thinks the best player in the NBA is.
His response: “Me… in two months.” pic.twitter.com/5yOXjzk7t1
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 18, 2022
“Me… in two months,” he declared emphatically.
There is no denying that Holmgren possesses a rare set of skills for a player of his size. He is listed at seven feet tall, with a seven foot six inch wingspan. But he offers more than just size.
Holmgren is a great athlete. He can handle the ball in traffic and off the dribble. But even more impressively is his ability to shoot. He can knock down shots from beyond the arc efficiently. He shot better than 60 percent from the field and hit 39 percent from downtown in his only season in college.
But whether or not he has elite skills for a player his age, that’s obviously a bold statement. Despite being a seven-footer, he is only 195 pounds. Good luck trying to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo in the paint. He desperately needs to put on some weight and more importantly some muscle if he wants to bang with the bigs in the NBA.
