Stephen A. Smith Doesn't Hold Back on Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back with a Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, evening the Western Conference Finals at one game apiece.

Thunder center Chet Holmgren was almost invisible in his team’s double-overtime loss in Game 1, recording just eight points and eight rebounds through 41 minutes on the court. The Defensive Player of the Year runner-up didn’t guard Victor Wembanyama down the stretch as the Spurs notched a 122-115 final score at Paycom Center.

Holmgren slightly improved his play in Game 2, finishing the contest with 13 points and four rebounds through 27 minutes of action.

That being said, ESPN media personality Stephen A. Smith still lacks confidence in Holmgren’s ability to deliver throughout the remainder of the series.

"We all know his kryptonite is Wemby. I'm not even talking about on the basketball floor. The minute you see this brother get off the bus it seems like ‘Fright Night' for Chet Holmgren. He just ain't the same as he is with everybody else,” Smith said. “He knows everybody’s looking for him to step up and be a little bit more than he normally is. He just doesn’t seem ready for that challenge.”

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Holmgren and the Thunder now travel to San Antonio for Game 3 and Game 4, looking to regain home-court advantage with a victory on the road.

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Game 3 will tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 9:30 AM.