Chet Holmgren out 8-10 weeks as Thunder’s nightmare season hits another low

Chet Holmgren will be out for roughly two months. 

The star Thunder big man underwent a “biological treatment” for a small patellar tendon tear on Friday, sidelining him for 8-10 weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

Holmgren has missed each of OKC’s last two games, having last played in Sunday’s bout against the Clippers, during which he is said to have “experienced mild discomfort” in his knee, per the outlet.

The injury adds to a growing list of setbacks for the Thunder, who are already facing the possibility of losing Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the remainder of the season.

Williams underwent surgery after suffering a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula Sunday against the Clippers, while Wallace tore the labrum in his left shoulder during the same game.

Alex Caruso (ankle), Nikola Topic (back) and Thomas Sorber (knee) are also sidelined.

Oklahoma City is far from alone when it comes to bad injury luck in the early going of the 2026-27 NBA season.

Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Paolo Banchero and Ja Morant, among others, are all currently sidelined with various injuries.

Holmgren’s knee issue adds another chapter in a long list of injuries the Gonzaga product has dealt with since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2022. 

He missed his entire rookie season in 2022-23 after suffering a foot injury and was sidelined for nearly three months during the 2024-25 campaign with a fractured pelvis.

In three appearances this season, Holmgren is scoring 12 points per game with 9.3 rebounds in 30 minutes per contest. 

Despite injury troubles, the Thunder are 4-1 heading into Saturday’s game against the Rockets.