OKC Thunder Player Preview: Questions of consistency at crux of Alex Abrines growth
By Rylan Stiles
Entering year three of his pro campaign, OKC Thunder wing man Alex Abrines needs to demonstrate growth and in particular showcase consistency.
Alex Abrines has an interesting role with the OKC Thunder this season. In all likelihood he will be the starting shooting guard at the beginning of the year until Andre Roberson returns to form.
Last year, Alex Abrines was inconsistent to say the least. His raw per game numbers do not tell the whole story.
| Season | Age | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3PA | 3P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 24 | 75 | 8 | 15.1 | .395 | 2.9 | .380 | .540 | .848 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 4.7 |
| Career | 143 | 14 | 15.3 | .394 | 3.3 | .380 | .535 | .874 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 5.3 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/27/2018.
Despite being 25 years old, Abrines enters just the third season of his NBA career. Fans have grown tired of the shooting guard’s apparent lack of growth, but is this a fair assessment? For example, prior to the All Star break he shot 38 percent from the perimeter, but post All-Star break Abrines shot at a 42 percent clip from the perimeter.
Other marked improvements post break were his offensive net rating which rose to 120 from 108 while his defensive rating increased from 108 to 111. His best month from 3-point range was March when Abrines drained 50 percent of his perimeter attempts.
The Spaniard came off the bench last season vacillating between being a competent role player to at times he appearing confused and lost within the Thunder system.