Overshadowing the Oklahoma City Thunder losing to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night was Chet Holmgren’s hip injury that shut him down for the remainder of the game.
The Thunder announced around midnight on Monday morning that their 7-foot-1 big man suffered a right iliac wing fracture in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. The injury cut Holmgren’s night short, and he’s now expected to be sidelined for an extended period.
While the Thunder anticipate sharing a clearer timeline in 8 to 10 weeks, Holmgren could potentially miss around 25 to 30 games, depending on his recovery and rehab progress. The team hopes to have him back later in the 2024-25 season, pending further updates.
While it’s disappointing news, there’s a silver lining: Holmgren could return around the NBA All-Star break or shortly after, giving him time to ramp up before the playoffs. In the meantime, the Thunder will get some frontcourt relief with Isaiah Hartenstein returning soon and Jaylin Williams shortly after. Offensively, however, the burden will fall on players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Lu Dort to step up their production in Holmgren’s absence.
Photos of a right Iliac wing fracture
In simple terms, Holmgren’s right iliac wing fracture is a break in the upper part of his right hip bone, an area known as the iliac wing. This part of the pelvis helps support the muscles around the hip. Although it’s a painful injury, if isolated—meaning no nearby organs or blood vessels are affected—it’s generally not a major threat and can often heal with rest and conservative treatment.
