Chet Holmgren arrived back in Minneapolis ahead of his team’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night, resulting in a special and unintentionally uncomfortable homecoming. The talented player, who was the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year award after sitting out the previous season due to a Lisfranc injury. He is a crucial part of the Thunder’s future and highly regarded by everyone associated with the organization.
This was evident on Friday night when Holmgren’s high school, Minnehaha Academy, retired his jersey number. The 7-foot-1 center emerged as a star during his time with the Redhawks, winning four state championships. His exceptional performance warrants recognition in the form of a jersey hanging in the rafters. The majority of the Oklahoma City organization showed up to celebrate this momentous occasion.
A group of players and executives from the OKC Thunder were present at Minnehaha Academy in Minnesota for Chet Holmgren’s high school jersey retirement. It was a significant night for Chet, Minnehaha, and the entire Minnesota basketball community.
Chet Holmgren and his Thunder teammates took a photo together with his No. 34 jersey.
However, there was one notable absence – Josh Giddey. This absence created an awkward visual. Giddey was recently cleared of any potential charges by the Newport Beach Police regarding an alleged incident with a minor. Despite this news, the NBA’s investigation is still ongoing.
Two days later, Giddey was not in attendance at Holmgren’s high school ceremony. Could it be a coincidence? It’s possible. Perhaps Giddey had an unfortunate bout of food poisoning and needed to stay at the hotel. Alternatively, the 21-year-old Australian may have had a prior commitment that required his presence elsewhere.
However, it is also plausible that Giddey made a calculated decision to stay behind. The Thunder organization may have advised him against being present at a high school gymnasium for various reasons. His public relations and legal team likely weighed the advantages and disadvantages before determining that it would not be in his best interest to attend.
Regardless of the behind-the-scenes details, the fact that Josh Giddey was absent from his team’s presence at Holmgren’s jersey retirement is quite amusing.
According to the Source brobible.com