BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Chet Holmgren's rookie season ended before it really began. The Oklahoma City Thunder's No. 2 overall pick played in a handful of Summer League games before getting injured in August while playing in pro-am in Seattle.
The injury cost him his entire rookie season, but despite the injury, Holmgren is still making an impact.
On Friday, the Minnehaha Academy graduate was handing out coats at the Salvation Army Service Center in Brooklyn Park, the same center that was set on fire and vandalized last month.
"Minnesota's not a place where you want to go without a coat for the winter," said Holmgren. "So, I just thought I'd step in and try and lend a helping hand to those who might need it.
Hundreds of donated coats were damaged after the center was set on fire and vandalized. Holmgren said when he heard the news, he wanted to replace 170 damaged coats through his partnership with Operation Warmth.
"Being from here — and growing up in the cold — I think this is a great full-circle moment for sure," said Holmgren.
The Minneapolis native won four state championships with Minnehaha Academy and was named the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year his senior season. He spent on year at Gonzaga where he averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting .607 from the field and .390 from beyond the arc.
After leading the Bulldogs to a spot in the Sweet 16, Holmgren was selected second overall by the Thunder, making him the highest Minnesota-born played picked in the NBA Draft. The next highest was Hibbing's Kevin McHale, who was selected No. 3 overall in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
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