Key Highlights
- Chet Holmgren is revealed to have Jewish heritage through his maternal lineage.
- The revelation comes as the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
- Holmgren’s family history traces back to a Polish immigrant who founded a company that dredged Mississippi River locks.
- A video of Holmgren working out at Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles led to backlash and online insults.
The Jewish All-Star: Chet Holmgren’s Hidden Heritage
Chet Holmgren, the towering center for the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, is not just a star on the court. He has been keeping his Jewish heritage under wraps, only to have it revealed in an anonymous tip last year. As he continues his breakout season and leads the Thunder towards another championship title, the revelation brings both pride and potential peril.
Family Roots
Holmgren’s maternal grandfather, Ray Harris, was a prominent developer whose life was celebrated at Temple Israel Minneapolis after his passing in 2025. His father, Leo Harris, who arrived from Poland in 1870 and founded a company that dredged the Mississippi River locks, laid down the family roots deeply into Jewish history.
The Controversy
During this year’s Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Holmgren faced an unexpected challenge. A video emerged of him working out at Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles, an Orthodox Jewish school frequented by NBA stars due to its security and premium facilities. The video featured Holmgren shooting hoops with Israeli flags in the background, leading to a torrent of online insults and assumptions about his political leanings.
One nickname that emerged was “Chetanyahu,” a play on the name Netanyahu, which is not lost on anyone who has followed recent political events. This incident highlighted the potential for backlash when publicly identifying as Jewish in today’s polarized climate.
Community Response
The Menschwarmers, a community group dedicated to celebrating Jewish heritage within sports, felt it was time to shine a light on Holmgren’s background. They released an episode discussing the history of his family and why he might prefer to avoid public discussions about his religion.
“It’s understandable that Chet would want to keep this personal,” one community member stated. “But given his immense success, it’s important to recognize and celebrate this part of his identity.”
Why It Matters
The story of Chet Holmgren is more than just a revelation; it’s a reflection of the complex interplay between Jewish heritage and public life in modern America. For many athletes, publicly identifying as Jewish can be an uphill battle against stereotypes and hate.
Holmgren’s journey from the shadows to stardom raises questions about visibility and its costs. As he continues his remarkable career with the Thunder, Holmgren’s choice on how to navigate his identity will undoubtedly shape not just his own story but also the broader conversation around Jewish representation in sports.