Nov 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Reggie Jackson(15) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
With KD and Westbrook missing so much time, other players have had to stand out during the early part of the season. Who has been the team’s MVP so far?
Sam Livingston:Before his injury, I really thought Perry Jones was going to blossom into the Thunder’s early season MVP. However, that never came to be and Reggie Jackson upped his game to new heights and can be nothing less than the MVP of this season so far. While the Thunder’s record without Durant and Westbrook was not a pretty sight, it would have been much worse had it not been for Jackson carrying this team to the best of his ability.
David Ramil: As cliche as it sounds, it really was a group effort to carry the team through that tough stretch. You have to love what Ibaka brought to the table, even if he showed he’s not ready to carry a team alone (which was never expected of him). Reggie Jackson did a phenomenal job of being productive in a starting role. But I think you could say that Lance Thomas really stepped up, considering that he was not meant to be anything but a role player and was thrust into the starting lineup.
Evan Riggs: So far, the MVP has to be Reggie Jackson. In Westbrook and Durant’s absence, he ranked among the top-20 among guards in points (9th), rebounds (14th) and assists (7th). He was the only guy who was able to create offense for himself and others, and was a big reason the Thunder were able to be competitive.
Chris Shifflett: Hard to say. Jackson or Lamb will probably get the most love here, but the guy that surprised me the most was Lance Thomas. I didn’t think they’d get anything out of him, and he has definitely proven otherwise.
J.M. VanSant: After KD and Russell went down this season, it seemed most people believed that Serge Ibaka would take over the team. But it became clear after his return that Reggie Jackson was the leader of the team. His consistent play on night-to-night basis might have been him auditioning for a new team, but it was also a necessary boost to an injured Thunder team.
Next: Coach Brooks