OKC Thunder Most Notable Reserve:
OKC Thunder fans were searching high-and-low for news on Hamidou Diallo since draft night when he was traded to the Thunder. He was not listed on the initial roster. This is because the trade could not physically be completed until today. Clearly the Thunder worked expediently as he was on the court for Game 1.
Diallo is a rookie from Kentucky who has all the athleticism in the world. He has the ability to leap out of the gym. Diallo was the first man off the OKC bench today, but his service was a moot point. He did not make an impact in today’s game, but hey at least he suited up. Look for him to play a bigger role in Tomorrow’s contest against the Nets.
In case you wondering about Hamidou Diallo draft night trade, obviously things were made official today as he was first reserve to check into game. #ThunderUp
— Thunderous Intentions (@thunderousint) July 6, 2018
Best Opponent:
Malik Monk was simply the best player on the floor tonight, for either team. He turned in 18-first-half-points, finishing with 23-points for the game. Monk lit it up from 3-points land shooting 44-percent from distance. A second year player, that looks the part for the Hornets. Defensively he even forced a pair of turnovers.
Malik Monk is showing off & with news Tony Parker is headed to Charlotte you have to believe TP will open the floor for Monk & make the reserve unit much more productive (especially Monk)
— Thunderous Intentions (@thunderousint) July 6, 2018
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Final Thoughts
The OKC Thunder dropped a tough one–If that is a thing in the Summer League–To the Hornets to open their summer play.
However, the ride is not over yet. The Thunder will have at least four more battles remaining in Vegas. The next one will come Tomorrow against the Nets at 6:30 on NBATV.
Tonight did not go the way the Thunder wanted it to. No, not because of what the scoreboard says, but because of what we did not see.
We did not see the new-and-improved Terrance Ferguson. While there is still time to see the strides Ferguson has made since season end it is starting on the wrong foot. Hopefully the Nets tilt will be a different story in T-Ferg’s NBA Summer League book.
Next: Meet the OKC Summer League Roster
For the full box score visit NBA link here and for game highlights, click the video above.