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- Chet Holmgren is skinny, but that doesn’t bother Kenny Smith.
- Smith explains why his frame shouldn’t be a concern heading into the NBA.
- Be sure to check out more sports stories at BroBible here.
Chet Holmgren could very well be the first-overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s a dominant force that can stretch the floor at 7-feet tall, but the first thing people notice about him is his skinny frame.
Holmgren is listed at just 195 pounds, which at 7-feet, is mighty light. He’s managed to average 14.2 points and 9.6 rebounds during his freshman season at Gonzaga, but his light frame could be a real issue at the professional level.
Kenny Smith, however, doesn’t think his weight should worry NBA scouts.
The two-time NBA champion spoke with Complex about Holmgren and explained why he thinks he could thrive at the next level.
“He’s been thin his whole life and he’s still been dominant,” Smith explained. “He’s going to add strength even if he doesn’t put on weight. [Holmgren’s] skill set is so unique, being able to handle the ball with that fluidity translates into a more open floor than college, which zones you up more, you don’t have multiple guys who can really score, don’t have guys who can come off the bench and create double teams.
“He’s going to play with a whole unique set of guys. And his length allows him to be such a great shot blocker.”
Holmgren has the length, ball-handling skills, and ability to move the basketball at an extremely high level already. Those skillsets will far outweigh his skinny frame at the NBA level, according to Smith.