OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren is coming off a breakout season, earning his first All-Star selection and finishing runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, while making the All-Defensive First Team in 2026-27. Holmgren also took Thomas Sorber under his wing, finding common ground with the Thunder rookie center who sat out the first year of his NBA career due to injury.

After the first day of training camp, Holmgren addressed his newfound approach as one of the team’s leaders ahead of his fourth season with the Thunder.

“I’ve always tried to lead by example; do the right thing,” Holmgren said. “Lead with effort and hard work. But I definitely feel a little bit of responsibility to communicate as somebody who’s been here a couple of years, played a couple of years; I feel I have an understanding that some people might not. Just to kind of help them along the way. I also don’t think I’m immune to somebody pointing something out to me. I think the best way to build chemistry and flow together is for everybody to be communicating with each other.

“I wouldn’t say it’s any different than before. I’d just say my first year or two I asked more questions, and now I think I’m answering a few more questions.”

Chet Holmgren on entering 2026-27 feeling like one of the Thunder’s leaders: “My first year or two I would say I asked more questions. Now I think I’m answering more questions

Do you feel like one of the vets on this team now?

“Yeah” pic.twitter.com/5lSHohvAkL

— Thunder 405 (@Thunder405OKC) September 30, 2026

Do you feel like one of the veterans on this team?

“Yeah,” Holmgren replied.

Holmgren has undoubtedly emerged as one of the Thunder’s leaders alongside All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. And with his max contract kicking in this upcoming season, he’s taking on new responsibilities, such as hosting off-season workouts ahead of training camp.

Holmgren posted career-bests in points (17.1), rebounds (8.9), and shooting percentage (55.7) per game last season.

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Thunder’s Chet Holmgren offers advice to rookie Thomas Sorber

For someone who sat out his entire first season in the NBA, Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren could certainly relate to Thomas Sorber’s 2025-26 campaign. The two bonded over it. And while the setback is never ideal for a prospect looking to make a name for himself, Holmgren’s growth into one of the NBA’s best defensive bigs is a great example for Sorber.

“Chet has told me always to be patient. Listen to what the medical staff has for you because they helped him shape to where he’s at today,” Sorber tells ClutchPoints. “He’s just telling me to dial into whatever the medical staff has for you, and I promise you’ll get better at the end of the day, because it always gets better at the end of the day. So, that’s one thing.

“Not just Chet, but mainly everybody on the team has taught me just to be patient with certain things, especially with my rehab, just to be patient.”

The mere mention of Sorber put a smile on Holmgren’s face during Media Day, as he talked about how the Thunder rookie has a bright future ahead of him.

“He’s a great kid, man. I remember giving him some advice because I basically went through the same situation he went through last year,” Holmgren said. “I couldn’t give him advice on his injury because it was different from mine, but I could give him advice on the process. I don’t think I even handled it as well as he did. And I’m sure there were days that were frustrating, and he had things that set him back along the way, and you would never know it talking to him.

“He shows up. He handles his work. You know I called him a great kid, but he’s handled the last year like a man. He’s a young guy on our team, but anybody can set the example, and I think he’s done that.”

Sorber will look to make his NBA debut when the Thunder host the Pelicans on October 6.