With the Oklahoma City Thunder competing within the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer League circuits – the franchise has been given the higher hand with eight video games on faucet.
Following two dominant performances within the Utah Summer League, successful by a collective 38 factors, the Thunder faltered of their final two video games, most just lately Saturday night time versus the Houston Rockets.
While collectively, the Oklahoma City Thunder have proven a plethora of strengths in Summer League, all eyes have been on the event flashed by their three first-round picks.
Halfway via the Summer League, right here’s a grade on all three of Oklahoma City’s first-round picks:
Chet Holmgren: A+
Chet Holmgren dominated the SportsCenter reel Wednesday morning following a jaw-dropping 23-point, 6-block effort in his Summer League debut. Since setting the Utah Summer League document in swats, he’s flown a tad beneath the radar together with his outputs. However, he’s helped to unlock play in Bricktown they point-blank have by no means had.
Across three video games, Holmgren has averaged 15.3 factors, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per recreation. For reference, Jaren Jackson Jr. was the block chief final season, averaging 2.3 blocks.
At 7-foot-`1, 195 kilos, there have been questions headed into the Summer League on how Holmgren would have the ability to deal with NBA-level facilities. Against Kofi Cockburn and Tacko Fall, two facilities with near 100-pound weight benefits – nobody was scoring within the paint. That has been the frequent theme in his three video games of motion as whereas not all pictures have been rejected – guards have needed to decide on floaters as a substitute of slashing to the cup whereas bigs have been reasonably inefficient.
Offensively, Holmgren has supplied perimeter play capturing 5-of-13 (38.5%) from deep. While groups have discovered success taking part in him tightly on the perimeter, his presence up prime has opened the lane exponentially for cuts. Jalen Williams would verify that assertion.
Holmgren has proved {that a} good efficiency is just not dictated by his offensive output as he’s in a position to contribute on each ends. The stat sheet has missed some big-time performs with Holmgren.
Ousmane Dieng: D
Ousmane Dieng entered this yr’s Summer League with long-term improvement in thoughts. As a 19-year-old, 6-foot-10 ball-handler, Dieng comes from a uncommon fabric of prospects that each franchise takes be aware in. Sam Presti made a giant play on draft night time, buying and selling three protected-first-round picks to land Dieng at Pick No. 11. Thus far, he’s stored a low profile. But, the Summer League has helped uncover a developmental path.
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Across 4 video games, Dieng has averaged 8.0 factors, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
Dieng’s offensive function has come reasonably underwhelming. Though, context is required to clarify the circumstance. Dieng has been a key ball-handler for many of his taking part in profession, most just lately with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. He’s somebody who makes performs coming off screens and taking part in on-ball. With Josh Giddey and Tre Mann, amongst others, controlling the ball, Dieng has been pushed into new grounds as a catch-and-shoot piece. To this level, he’s 4-of-24 (16.7%) on threes.
The finest indicator for Dieng’s Summer League is how he gels with the Thunder’s core, but in addition how he handles on-ball reps. Thus far, he hasn’t been the smoothest offensively, however the protection has been stable. As a playmaker, there’s not sufficient to base his play on.
With the NBA G League season usually beginning in November, it might not be a complete shock to see Dieng play with the Oklahoma City Blue into December. The Thunder utilized this technique for present gamers Tre Mann and Aleksej Pokusevski final season within the title of extra on-ball reps. As a ball-handler himself, the Blue can be a stable match to foster his creation expertise.
Jalen Williams: A+
When Jalen Williams was chosen at Pick No. 12 final month, many deemed the guard a attain for Oklahoma City. Now, that very same crowd would doubtless be calling JDub a steal for his draft spot.
Across 4 video games, Williams has averaged 13.8 factors, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists.
Williams has been nothing in need of spectacular for the Thunder. As a participant who shot almost 40% on threes and averaged 4.2 assists final yr at Santa Clara, you’d think about his Summer League highlights can be on-ball possessions. They’ve been slam dunks.
JDub has been at a trampoline park in Summer League, knifing baseline for simple buckets on slams and reverse finishes. The Thunder wanted efficient cutters to tag alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey, and so they discovered their man with Williams.
To tag together with his off-ball scores, he’s additionally been the Thunder’s best participant, capturing 22-of-39 (56.4%) in all and 4-of-7 (57.1%) on threes. Whatever function the Thunder have needing filling, Williams has come into the sport and patched it with flying colours.
Defensively, Williams has exceeded the scouting report card. As a 6-foot-6, 7-foot-2 wingspan guard, he was famend for deflecting passes. However, he’s gone to new heights, even blocking a Jabari Smith Jr. turnaround on Saturday.
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