Chet Holmgren teases potential return with 4-word message amid OKC Thunder's road trip

Chet Holmgren of the OKC Thunder has been out since Nov. 10 when he suffered a right iliac wing fracture. Holmgren was given eight to ten weeks of recovery time, teasing a potential return amid the Thunder's four-game road trip that started on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In a post on his Instagram stories, Holmgren shared an image of himself walking to the Thunder team plane headed to Washington D.C. for Sunday's game versus the Wizards. He was not using a crutch to walk and was even carrying luggage on both hands.

Holmgren even dropped a four-word message, teasing a potential return during the trip.

"Miss dis Shi bad," the former No. 2 pick wrote.

Chet Holmgren shared this on his Instagram stories. (Photo: Screengrabbed from @chet_holmgren on IG)

According to Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman, Chet Holmgren is close to returning after joining the OKC Thunder in their current four-game trip. Holmgren has also started increasing his physical activity, including movement drills on the court during Wednesday's shootaround against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The former No. 2 pick was cleared to walk on his own without help from a crutch two weeks ago, which puts him in the right time frame of recovery. However, he's still not practicing with the team, so he may not be ready to return during the road trip.

Holmgren suffered the injury on Nov. 10 against the Golden State Warriors. He challenged Andrew Wiggins' shot at the rim, but lost his balance and fell hard on the floor. He had to get assisted by the Thunder's training staff and carried back to the locker room.

Upon further evaluation, Holmgren was diagnosed with a right-wing iliac fracture in his hip. There's no need for surgery, but he was given a lengthy eight to 10 weeks of recovery period. He's in his ninth week since the injury happened, which means he's right on the dot if he returns to action after next week.

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Chet Holmgren was having a breakout season before the injury

Chet Holmgren having a breakout season before the injury. (Photo: IMAGN)

Before suffering his hip injury, Chet Holmgren was having a breakout campaign for the OKC Thunder. Holmgren was playing really well on both sides of the floor, averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 blocks per game. He was a presence in the middle for the Thunder, proving why he's a franchise cornerstone.

As the Thunder navigated through Holmgren's injury, they found their groove and established themselves as the best team in a stacked Western Conference. They didn't even have a legitimate big man until Isaiah Hartenstein's return from a hand injury.

Oklahoma City currently sits at 31-6, comfortably ahead of the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies for the best record in the West.