Burn or Nah? OKC Thunder's Chet Holmgren Roasts Miami Heat Fans on Podcast

Chet Holmgren teased Miami Heat fans, describing the Kaseya Center atmosphere as "drunk" and "empty."

July 18, 2024

Image: photo of an Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) basketball player looking fierce

Chet Holmgren is tall and thin and has a big mouth. Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images

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Oklahoma City Thunder scrawny big man Chet Holmgren went in on Miami Heat fans during a recent guest appearance on the Road Trippin' podcast.

When asked which arenas are his favorite to play in while on the road, the seven-foot-one, 208-pound Holmgren, whom OKC nabbed with the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, cited the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat, as one of his picks.

His reasoning was eyebrow-raising.

"I like Miami because it's, like, empty. It's like a drunk like...," said Holmgren, trailing off as the hosts jump in. "It gets wild. As an away team, you just have to build that lead in the first three quarters, and then it just stays quiet for the fourth. But I like Miami."

Chet Holmgren’s response when asked what are his favorite road arenas to play in:

*in no order*

1.) Golden State

2.) Miami

3.) Minnesota (hometown)

He also said “We have a ball in there” when talking about Golden State, even Chet knows it’s the Shai area now 😅 pic.twitter.com/N3GK3iSZzY
— 👑 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴 👑 (@neverbeenequal) July 17, 2024

So, Miami Heat fans, do we take Holmgren's comments as a playful jab or a surprising compliment? How will the Kaseya Center respond the next time he's in town?

Though she's a Jersey girl by birth, former staff writer Zulekha Pitts — Zee to her family and friends, has deep roots in Florida. Before coming to New Times in 2024, she worked as a content creator and digital producer for USA Today and content producer for 3TV and CBS 5 News in Phoenix and also has experience as a digital host for the jewelry home-shopping channel Gem Shopping Network in Atlanta. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies, Zee is wrapping up a master's in communication at Villanova.

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