Chet Holmgren returned to Minneapolis ahead of his team’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. It made for a really special, and unintentionally awkward, homecoming.
The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is a legitimate candidate to be named Rookie of the Year after missing all of last season with a Lisfranc injury. He is a key piece of the Thunder’s future and beloved by everybody involved with the organization.
That was clear on Friday night as Holmgren had his high school numbered retired at Minnehaha Academy. The 7-foot-1 center blossomed into a star with the Redhawks and won four state championships. His number deserves to hang in the rafters.
Most of the Oklahoma City organization pulled up to celebrate Holmgren’s jersey retirement.
A squad of players and executives were in the building.
There was one notable omission. Josh Giddey was not there.
His absence creates a very awkward visual.
Giddey was cleared by Newport Beach Police from any potential charges related to an alleged incident with a minor earlier this week. The NBA’s investigation is still ongoing despite the news that dropped on Wednesday night.
Two days later, Giddey did not attend Holmgren’s ceremony… at a high school.
Coincidence? Perhaps.
Maybe Giddey ate some bad shrimp and needed to stay at the hotel. Maybe the 21-year-old Australian had a previously-scheduled obligation that required him to be elsewhere.
Or, maybe, the decision not to join his team at Minnehaha was a PR move.
It is very possible that Giddey made an executive decision to stay back. The Thunder might have suggested that it was better for him not to be inside of a high school gym. His publicity and/or legal team may have weighed the pros and cons before deciding that it wouldn’t be a great look.
Regardless of what happened behind the scenes, Josh Giddey not being with his team at Holmgren’s jersey retirement is rather amusing.