Jerami Grant poised to become OKC Thunder x-factor this season
By Yams
Grant’s offensive development
Grant’s biggest improvements were on the offensive end. Grant averaged 2.9 more PPG during the 2017-18 season than he did in the 2016-17 season while also being much more efficient. He averaged 8.4 PPG on 53.5 percent shooting from the field and 67.5 percent from the line. As a result of that, he had an impressive 60.7 true shooting percentage. Those percentages are all career-bests.
That improvement is the result of many reasons.
His great play as the roll man in pick-and-rolls is one of them. He was the team’s second-best roll man (after Steven Adams, of course). He averaged 1.24 points per possession as the roll man in PnRs. Amongst players who were the roll man in at least 30 possessions, Jerami Grant had an NBA-best 32.1 percent free throw frequency – a testament to his foul-drawing ability.
He has also done a better job at protecting the ball. His 8.8 turnover percentage is a career-low. Jerami Grant’s touch during his first season in OKC was really hard and not so delicate. It led to him getting stripped on drives rather often. He has improved in that respect. It’s still not the softest touch out there, but the improvement is rather visible.
Jerami Grant is aware of his limitations as a player. He doesn’t tend to venture too far out of his role. However, even with that being the case, he has managed to improve his offensive game constantly.
Three of his five highest scoring games came after the all-star break, including a 20 point game in Atlanta on March 13.
Post All-Star breakthrough:
The numbers highlight how much better he was after the all-star break. Before the all-star break, he averaged 7.9 PPG while shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 25.6 percent from three, and 65.0 percent from the line. He averaged 20.7 MPG during that time.
By comparison, he averaged 9.8 PPG after the all-star break. His shooting percentages were even better. He shot 59.1 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three, and 72.5 percent from the line. His true shooting percentage after the all-star break was a striking 67.6. Bear in mind that he only played 19.5 MPG during that span.
The strides Jerami Grant has made on offense have turned him into one of the Thunder’s most important pieces.