OKC Thunder: OKC Blue ink second round pick Kevin Hervey
By Rylan Stiles
OKC Thunder announced they have assigned their 57th NBA draft pick Kevin Hervey to their G-League affiliate the OKC Blue for the season.
The OKC Thunder announced Thursday rookie Kevin Hervey was officially signed as a member of the OKC Blue. This addresses where all three of the Thunder rookies will play this season. Unlike Hervey, Devon Hall will be playing in Australia to start the year–Hall does have a chance to return to the States and suit up for the Blue after the ABL season ends.
The third piece that OKC got in June was Hamidou Diallo, the freak athlete from the University of Kentucky. He looks poised for some end of the bench minutes with the varsity squad. The only missing puzzle piece to date was Hervey.
Kevin Hervey, who was selected 57th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in this year’s NBA Draft, has signed and returned a G League contract according to a league source.
— Jawnzun (@jawnzun) October 5, 2018
The OKC Thunder have used the OKC Blue as a way to gain guys minutes and experience in the past, which is a perk of having a direct G-League affiliate. Guys who spent time with the Blue before graduating to the varsity squad include: Andre Roberson, Reggie Jackson, Josh Huestis, Dakari Johnson, and Semaj Christon. Terrance Ferguson also went across the street to the Cox Convention Center to suit up for the Blue last season during his rookie campaign.
Kevin Hervey was bound for the G-League as soon as Sam Presti turned in his draft card to Adam Silver. After an injury riddled career at UT-Arlington, he still proved enough on the court to get selected in the NBA Draft. Hervey, is just 22 years old, and at 6’8 it will be interesting to see which positions he will play in this new position-less basketball era.
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A year ago, Hervey poured in 20 points in his 33 games at UT-Arlington. In 16 games during the 2016-17 season, he averaged 18 points. For his college career, Hervey was a 15.5 points per game season. His three point percentage was a lowly 32 percent, however, from the field that number jumped to 44 percent.
That decision will be left up to OKC Blue head man, Mark Daigneault. Daigneault was apart of Billy Donovan’s coaching staff at the University of Florida, so it is safe to assume Daigneault will put Hervey in situations that Donovan eventually will if all goes to plan in Hervey’s favor.
For the Blue, they have a promising season coming up. They might be the favorites to win the G-League title depending on who you ask. With players like Deonte Burton, Tyler Davis, Bryce Alford (who posted 15 points per game a year ago with the Blue), and some spot minutes from Hamidou Diallo playing the Ferguson role from a year ago this OKC Blue team will be stacked as far as G-League squads go.