Minnesotan Chet Holmgren returns with an NBA championship trophy — and hoops with kids
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Minnesotans recently had a chance to see the NBA championship trophy. But not because the Timberwolves won the title.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren — and native Minnesotan — returned home to show off the Larry O’Brien trophy on Thursday in St. Paul. The Thunder trounced the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals in May, then went on to capture the title last month.
“I don’t think I’ve been home for more than four days at a time since I got drafted (in 2022),” he said. “It’s good to get a little bit of home time. See all my people.”
At an event at Oxford Community Center, children, parents and fans patiently waited outside. Others romped around basketball hoops, exchanging windmills and two-handed dunks.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
As soon as Holmgren stepped outdoors, an avalanche of children crowded the newly minted NBA champion. A swarm of people, with Holmgren in the middle, slowly made their way through the parking lot.
“It’s really all about the kids,” he said.
Holmgren signed autographs for about 40 minutes on the hot, muggy afternoon. After writing his name on countless basketballs, jerseys and hats, it was time to play. Every kid attending the event formed a semi-circle surrounding one of the hoops and raised their hands while Holmgren picked his opponent.
Up for the challenge: 4-foot-9, 12-year-old Ahmir Crump.
After facing off against 7-foot-one, 23-year-old Holmgren, Crump said: “It means a lot to show how good I got. ‘Cause a minute ago I would not be able to score on him. He would block me every time I shot.”
Crump said he inherited his love for basketball from his older siblings and wants to be better than them.
Clouds sporadically provided shade, but the sun beamed throughout most of the afternoon. Every time Holmgren jumped or attempted a shot, sweat splashed off his hair.
The next challenger was 17-year-old James Brown, who was confident heading into the friendly, one-on-one game. He drove hard into Holmgren. Brown displayed a crossover, a pump fake and a step-back, but it’s tough to beat one of the best defensive players on the planet.
"It was kind of hard,” Brown said. “He’s tall. And it’s like really ... It’s hard to score on him, 'cause he’s long and stuff, but that’s what I got to work on.”
Minutes earlier, Brown also faced off against St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter.
The mayor, who was wearing a button-up dress shirt and jeans, had a tough time against his younger opponent. Brown swiftly dribbled around Carter and scored a layup.
Brown said he’s been playing basketball since he was 4-years-old.
Earlier in the week, Holmgren hosted a basketball camp at Minnehaha Academy, his former high school. He grew up in Minneapolis and was a standout high school player.
Before playing pickup games, Holmgren remembered the times he and his friends bounced around the Twin Cities playing basketball.
“We used to come up here and hoop in the summer,” he said, remembering his on-court experiences in St. Paul. “Wherever people were playing at … I used to pass here going to and from my friend’s house.”
