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Enes Kanter: OKC Thunder Season in Review

By Casimir Cuffy

Jan 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) reacts after a play when he was hit in the mouth against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) reacts after a play when he was hit in the mouth against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 22, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; OKC Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Regular Season Statistics

Enes Kanter finished up the regular season averaging 14.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. This came after a season where he scored 12.7 points and 8.1 points per game, and that was with another superstar on the team.

Kanter did miss 10 games because of pure stupidity, and this served as the turning point in his season. He only eclipsed 20 points on three occasions after returning from his injury; Kanter failed to earn more than 15 points in half his games after returning.

This Thunder team is a team that lacks scorers and shot makers. Besides Victor Oladipo (who missed some time because of injury himself) they had no one besides Kanter they could run the offense through.

Kanter was handed the keys to the second unit from the start and performed admirably before his injury. The 24-year old was even in the discussion for the sixth man of the year award. After he returned, the numbers were there on some occasions, but the rhythm clearly wasn’t.

Playoff Statistics

In five games Kanter averaged a stunning 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Honestly, It was painful to watch how useless he looked out there. Enes was undoubtedly a liability in this series against the Houston Rockets.

His defense, or lack there-of, caused him to lose playing time and even result in Billy Donovan getting caught on camera stating “Can’t play Kanter”.

Questions arise once a player who is supposed to be your second best scorer is forced off the court in the playoffs. We all know that Kanter is talented offensively, but more production is required for a player making as much money as he is per year.

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