Chet Holmgren uncertain for season opener after missing entire preseason

Chet Holmgren’s status for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season opener remains up in the air after the third-year center missed all five of the team’s preseason games with a quadriceps contusion, according to Clemente Almanza.

Head coach Mark Daigneault said Saturday that everyone participated in practice in some capacity, but he declined to reveal how much work Holmgren got in and deferred to the NBA’s official injury report, which will be released Monday.

The Thunder open the 2026-27 season Tuesday on the road against the San Antonio Spurs. Holmgren, 24, averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks across 69 games last season. There has been no indication of a lengthy absence, but his availability for opening night will not be known until the injury report drops.

Isaiah Hartenstein would be in line for an expanded role if Holmgren sits, with rookie Aday Mara also a candidate for extra minutes.