NBA fans reacted to Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren giving praise to a legendary acrobatic performer who had been a staple in halftime shows of both the NBA and the WNBA.
Over at social media platform X, NBA fans reacted to how Chet Holmgren gave praise to acrobatic performer Red Panda, after a video caught a wholesome moment where he offered a high five to the legendary performer.
“Real s***, she got more talent than all of us,” Holmgren said on his post, where he shared the video of him giving Red Panda a high five.
Real shit she got more talent than all of us😂💯 https://t.co/NRL4OwSG58
— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) December 8, 2025
For one fan, the acrobat doesn’t have one specific talent that they apparently do.
“I ain’t ever seen Red Panda shoot 54 from oxtails shooting odee cornbread tho,” the fan said.
Red Panda, whose given name is Rong Niu, first appeared at an NBA halftime show in 1993 for the Los Angeles Clippers and has since broadened her reach to college basketball and the WNBA, building a reputation for acrobatic routines that continue to draw attention.
Holmgren’s public praise highlighted how Niu’s act still connects with younger players and fans more than three decades after her debut, reinforcing her status as a cross-generational attraction in basketball entertainment.
More recently, fellow OKC star and 2024 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said Holmgren is entering a new phase offensively, comparing the 7-foot-1 forward’s development to the way Dirk Nowitzki expanded his game, and predicting Holmgren will continue to add scoring as he gains strength.
“He just doesn’t fade physically,” Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN. “His moves are stronger throughout the game. Naturally, he’s going to walk into 15, 17 points a night. Then, as he continues to get stronger, he will develop his low post and midpost game, kind of the way Dirk Nowitzki did.”
Holmgren, a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, is posting career highs in scoring and rebounding while maintaining efficient shooting, and SGA noted Holmgren’s sustained physicality and improving post play as signs of further offensive upside.
NBA Fans Talk Chet Holmgren, Red Panda
Over at X, NBA fans gave their honest opinions on the honest praise that CHet Holmgren gave out to Red Panda. For one fan, it probably came with free throws.
“Rumor has it SGA got two foul shots after that high five,” they joked.
Rumor has it SGA got two foul shots after that high five.
— Jon Bon Jabroni 2.0 (@KingTank83) December 8, 2025
One fan, however, agreed with Holmgren’s sentiment and even compared Red Panda to current NBA players.
“Well f*** yeah, Red Panda is the goddamn GOAT,” the fan said. “She’s been more consistent than any player or team in the NBA over the last three decades.”
Right now, NBA fans are excited to see how the OKC will ultimately do this season, and how stars like Holmgren will further show improvement in play.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
