Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren is anticipated to make his return to the court on Friday when the team faces the Toronto Raptors. The Thunder have officially removed Holmgren from their injury report, signaling his readiness to play. Holmgren himself confirmed his comeback via social media, generating excitement among fans and analysts alike.

Holmgren's previous injury occurred on November 10 during a home game against the Golden State Warriors, where he suffered a right iliac wing fracture. This injury was the result of a fall sustained after an attempted block in the first quarter of the game. Initially, the Thunder indicated that Holmgren would provide an update on his status in 8 to 10 weeks, with hopes that he would return before the conclusion of the season. On January 17, the team communicated that Holmgren was making progress in the return-to-play protocol and would be re-evaluated in approximately three to five weeks.

Head coach Mark Daigneault praised Holmgren's commitment and the support provided by the team during his recovery phase. In his first 10 games with the Thunder, Holmgren displayed remarkable potential, averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. His standout performance in the previous season had him finish as the runner-up for Rookie of the Year, closely trailing the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. Holmgren was selected by the Thunder as the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft but had to sit out the entire 2022-23 season due to a Lisfranc injury sustained during a Pro-Am event in August 2022. During his absence, the Thunder have relied on Isaiah Hartenstein as the starting center, with Jaylin Williams stepping in as the backup, and they have continued to lead the league with an impressive 40-9 record. Holmgren's upcoming return is expected to significantly bolster the Thunder's performance as they approach the second half of the season.