Nov 11, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrate after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesClemente Almanza, OKC Thunder WireTue, November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM UTC·2 min readHolding his annual Thanksgiving dinner, Chet Holmgren has helped create lifelong memories for several local children about the special holiday. He recently hosted foster families from Citizens Caring for Children at a local steakhouse.
Since Holmgren arrived, he and his family have conducted the annual Thanksgiving dinner four times. And considering he recently signed a contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, expect that tradition to continue for the foreseeable future.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Thunder added Holmgren with the 2022 NBA draft No. 2 pick. Even with two injury-plagued seasons, the 23-year-old helped them capture an NBA championship last year. It's still early, but he looks well on his way to being a first-time All-Star this season.
As the rest of the NBA does, the Thunder have been active in community work. But hosting a Thanksgiving meal was Holmgren's idea, which his family helped brainstorm. Foster families hold a special place in his heart and he helps them as much as he can with his constant community involvement.
“Foster families are very important — especially for kids who aren’t given the quote-unquote normal upbringing," Holmgren said. "Anybody who’s willing to bring a child that isn’t theirs into their home and look after them is somebody with a very big heart. I just want to do something special for them.”
Holmgren's work with foster families is just one slice of a ginormous pie of the Thunder's community involvement. Even though it's only his second season in OKC, Isaiah Hartenstein has spent most of his free time giving back to the community with his foundation. To the point that he received an NBA Community award for this past offseason.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementI know every NBA team participates in community help, but the Thunder's connection to their fanbase is more unique than the rest. Mostly because it's the only professional sports franchise in the state. That makes the relationship between the two parties even more special.
"I do a lot of work with the foster families year-round. Whether it's a Thanksgiving event or a Christmas event," Holmgren said. "I donate tickets every game to a foster family. So we can share Thunder basketball with them."
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Why hosting Thanksgiving for foster families is important to Holmgren
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