OKC Thunder power forward Patrick Patterson made a huge jump from last year’s list.
Good news Thunder fans: Oklahoma City’s newest starting power forward is the 76th best player in the NBA going into the season according to ESPN. Patrick Patterson received “Top 100” love from their NBA department for the first time in his career – last year he was ranked 121st.
Here’s what ESPN Stats & Info’s Micah Adams had to say:
"Though Patterson’s move to Oklahoma City received significantly less ink than Paul George’s (and rightfully so), it’s one that could pay huge dividends, as Patterson provides much needed spacing in the frontcourt. He made 94 3s last season in Toronto, 90 more than OKC’s second-half starter Taj Gibson has in his career. Thunder starting power forwards combined to rank 22nd in made 3s and 25th in 3-point FG percentage last season."
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The seven-year veteran averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24.6 minutes a game last season for Toronto. He only started 19 games in his 3.5 seasons with the Raptors, but he proved to be one of their most valuable bench players in that time.
The increased role in OKC combined with the talent around him appears to be the reason for the large leap in the rankings. Patterson will have more open corner threes than ever before – he’ll also be playing around much better defenders. The 28-year old’s numbers won’t wow you at the end of the season, but his consistency on both ends of the floor is why he ends up higher than above-average role players like Victor Oladipo (78) and JJ Reddick (87).
ESPN has ranked their 100-51 so far. Fellow Oklahoma Citian (sorry I refuse to say fellow Thunder) Andre Roberson comes in at #85, one spot behind 2016’s first overall pick Ben Simmons.