Nuggets star center Nikola Jokić caught the attention of Thunder big man Chet Holmgren when he made a comment about his weight over the weekend and the rookie responded Monday night.
Jokić matched up with Holmgren for the first time Sunday night and after his team’s 128–95 win, the reigning Finals MVP gave a quick assessment of his performance.
“I think he needs experience. I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest,” Jokić joked. “But yes, he has a talent that is unique.”
Holmgren stands at 7’ 1” but only weighs 195 pounds, according to the Thunder’s roster. After his team’s win over the Pistons Monday night, Holmgren addressed Jokić’s comments.
Nikola Jokic on Chet Holmgren: "I think he needs to be a little bit fatter, to be honest."
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) October 31, 2023
Chet: "It’s hard to get fatter when you’re not fat. Got to start somewhere, I guess." pic.twitter.com/TJu1wvr5cV
“It’s hard to get fatter when you’re not fat,” he told reporters. “Start somewhere, I guess.”
The 21-year-old was drafted with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of Gonzaga but missed the entire ’22 season due to a foot injury, making this his rookie year. He’s averaging 15 points and 6.3 rebounds through his first four games of the year.
