What would an NBA All-Defensive Team nod mean to Chet Holmgren?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have sat on the NBA throne all season. It was another year where they were at the top of the standings and had a league-best 11. 1 point differential.
By all measurements, they'll enter the 2026 NBA playoffs as the title favorite. That type of territory comes with its feats. One is the Thunder being heavily featured in the NBA award ballots.
Expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win back-to-back MVP trophies ā without really needing to stress over it, either. Should be a runaway win for him. Elsewhere, Chet Holmgren should likely finish runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
All the momentum suggests Victor Wembanyama will win that award unanimously. He led the league in blocks by a wide margin and has all of the advanced metrics and eye-ball tests to back up his dominance on the side of the floor. A second-place finish is basically a lock that Holmgren will be named to the NBA All-Defensive Team.
Anchoring OKC's league-best defense, it feels inevitable he'll receive that honor as he's enjoyed a career year that featured a first-time All-Star berth. How much would it mean to Holmgren to get the special recognition? A lot, but he won't let it define him.