Despite an 8-2 start to the season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first half of the 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a rocky road. The team entered the season with injuries to three players who were expected to see minutes at the center position, most notably Isaiah Hartenstein.

But now Oklahoma City will be without a starting center for at least two months, because Chet Holmgren suffered a major injury on Sunday evening. While contesting an Andrew Wiggins attempt at the rim early in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors, Holmgren came down hard and landed on his right hip. From there, he had to be helped off the floor by teammates because he could not put weight on his right leg.

Just hours after the game, the Thunder announced that the rising star had suffered a right iliac wing fracture, but is expected to return during the 2024-2025 season. An update on his return-to-play protocol will be provided in eight to 10 weeks, meaning there likely won’t be more information on his potential return until February.

Again, the expectation is that the evaluation and announcement of a return-to-play plan will occur during that time frame, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he expects to return then. There is a real chance he won’t speak again until after the NBA All-Star Break, or even early March.

The most important thing, however, is that he returns with enough time to get his legs under him and get in shape for the playoffs. If he is able to do that, this Thunder team is talented enough to remain one of the better teams in the Western Conference.

Holmgren’s injury makes the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein this summer even more important. Although he is out for a few more weeks with a hand injury, he will take the central starting position upon his return. He is a great starting caliber in this league and can ensure the Thunder are still a very good team on both ends.

But in the meantime, OKC finds itself in a tough spot. Not only are the Thunder without Holmgren and Hartenstein, but the roster is also missing Jaylin Williams and Kenrich Williams, both of whom would normally step up to play center minutes in this scenario. They are also injured and there is no talk of an early return.

As a result, expect Oklahoma City to lean even further into small lineups. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Thunder were to deploy five guards in the coming weeks. In fact, there isn’t much choice unless coach Mark Daigneault chooses to put someone like Ousmane Dieng or Dillon Jones in the starting lineup, although neither are natural centers. Either way, Oklahoma City has the tools to play in unorthodox ways while still being effective until Hartenstein returns to full health.

Holmgren is in good spirits, despite this being his second serious injury in recent years. He already missed his entire first NBA season and will now miss several months after playing all 82 regular season games in the 2023-24 season.

The road to the top spot in the Western Conference just got much tougher for Oklahoma City, but this season is certainly not a loss. Assuming the rest of the roster can remain somewhat healthy and Holmgren can return in a reasonable time frame based on what we know today, the Thunder are still poised to be a major threat in the playoffs and a real contender.