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Thunder year in review: Andre Roberson

By Derek Peterson

Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) looks at the clock late in the fourth quarter in game five against the Houston Rockets of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) looks at the clock late in the fourth quarter in game five against the Houston Rockets of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Andre Roberson
Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) looks at the clock late in the fourth quarter in game five against the Houston Rockets of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

In a season’s time, Andre Roberson went from utility player to an All-Defensive team candidate and legitimate starter for the Oklahoma City Thunder. We look back at his season.

Ah, Andre Roberson.

Has there been a more polarizing figure in Thunder history than the All-Defensive team candidate? Kendrick Perkins? Thabo Sefolosha? Maybe. But neither saw such a drastic shift in status and public perception in such a short time.

At the start of the 2016-17 campaign – from the outside looking in – Roberson was an afterthought. A “by default” starter on the wing in the aftermath of the Kevin Durant departure. Russell Westbrook was expected to handle the bulk of the production, with Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams making significant leaps in their fourth years.

By the trade deadline in February, plenty (myself included) felt Roberson needed to be dealt. The defensive excellence just didn’t quite make up for the offensive limitations and Roberson stood as the only real “asset” the Thunder could bring to the table.

But Roberson outlasted the deadline (we don’t really know if he was ever on the table to begin with) and by the time Oklahoma City was getting the boot from the postseason by the Houston Rockets, Roberson was looking like the second-best player on the Thunder roster.

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