One of the stand-out players in this year’s NBA Draft is the former Gonzaga Bulldogs big man – but does Chet Holmgren suffer from Marfan syndrome?
The 2022 NBA Draft is almost here, with the annual event taking place on Thursday (23 June) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn
This year there’s a ton of talent vying for the top overall pick. Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero are widely tipped to be selected with the first few picks, although the order remains to be seen.
The Orlando Magic have the No.1 overall pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder have No. 2, the Houston Rockets have No.3 and the Sacramento Kings have No.4.
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However, it’s Chet Holmgren who has long been tipped to be the No.1 overall pick.
Chet Holmgren: Wingspan, height and weight
The former Gonzaga center is one of the top NBA prospects in this year’s draft. Many have predicted he’ll be drafted as high as No.1 overall.
The 19-year-old is a unique player with a versatile skill set. He can block, shoot and handle the ball. However, his physicality and strength has been called into question.
Chet Holmgren’s wingspan is 7ft 6in (228.5cm), while his height is 7ft 1in. Holmgren’s weight, however, is only 195lb (88.5kg). As reported by The Ringer (via NBA Advanced Stats) Aleksej Pokusevski is the only other player listed in NBA history to stand at least 7ft but weigh less than 200lb.
No, Chet Holmgren does not have Marfan syndrome
Holmgren has that long, tall, skinny build, much like Bol Bol or when Kristaps Porzingis first entered the league. However, after Gonzaga played in front of a national audience, some fans wondered whether Chet Holmgren suffers from Marfan syndrome.
The NHS website reports: “Marfan syndrome is a disorder of the body’s connective tissues, a group of tissues that maintain the structure of the body and support internal organs and other tissues.
“Typical characteristics of Marfan syndrome include being tall and having abnormally long and slender limbs, fingers and toes (arachnodactyly).”
While the Gonzaga youngster is certainly tall and has a slender physique, there’s no evidence Chet Holmgren has Marfan syndrome – he is perfectly healthy.
How tall are Chet Holmgren’s parents?
Marfan syndrome is hereditary, which means it can be passed to a child from a parent who is affected. Although Chet doesn’t have the condition, he has certainly inherited his father’s frame.
Dave Holmgren is listed as 7ft, so it’s pretty clear where Chet gets his size from. Dave, himself, went viral recently at a Gonzaga game, which you can read about here.
Would you select Chet No.1 overall? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
