When the Thunder chosen each Jalen Williams and Ousmane Dieng within the lottery final summer season, neither participant was essentially on any crew’ large board on the specific time throughout the draft. That didn’t cease Sam Presti, although, and it’s straightforward to see why.
Both Williams and Dieng have been very nice surprises for a youthful Thunder crew that also appears to be like only a step behind. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s heroics has carried OKC to a 10-13 document, however with out his MVP-level of play, the Thunder can be quite a bit additional away from a .500 document.
Some video games, nevertheless, SGA’s lack of assistance on the ground is obvious, and has even costed the Thunder video games. That’s the place the pair of rookies come into play. Both of Oklahoma City’s kids have been key in final week’s video games, and though Dieng will seemingly proceed shifting back-and-forth between the Thunder and the Blue, every participant brings one thing totally different and distinctive to the ground. In his first week again with the crew, Dieng netted two robust performances with six factors, two triples and two blocks, following it up with 10 factors on 5-of-6 capturing.
Williams, who was seen as an NBA-ready prospect, has been simply that. He not too long ago received the NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month behind 10.7 factors, 3.1 rebounds and a pair of.6 assists whereas capturing 52.9 p.c from the ground. His efficiency towards the Spurs final week caught the attention of the league, as he dropped 27 factors and 6 rebounds on an ultra-efficient 11-of-15 capturing. Every recreation, Williams pulls out one other robust end across the rim that rookies merely shouldn’t have the option to do. He clearly has one of many highest ceilings on your complete crew.
Both Dieng and Williams are rising individually on the court docket because the season goes on, however probably the most spectacular factor, is that each are contributing to profitable on the ground proper now. Oklahoma City is a greater crew when the rookies are taking part in freely on the ground.
As they develop and get extra court docket time, it’s crucial that the rookies develop and develop chemistry with the present core. Williams and Dieng are ready to play with the Thunder’s prime gamers on a nightly foundation, and it’s clearly making them higher as gamers. The future is shiny for OKC’s two rookies, who’ve already began contributing to profitable basketball.
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