OKC Thunder: Jerami Grants don’t grow on trees

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 13: Jerami Grant #9 of the OKC Thunder handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 13, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 13: Jerami Grant #9 of the OKC Thunder handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 13, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
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OKC Thunder
Jerami Grant, OKC Thunder (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

OKC Thunder forward Jerami Grant isn’t a typical role player. Grant provides essential skills off the bench but is somehow often overlooked.

OKC Thunder fans love Jerami Grant. Many understand that he is a valuable player, but couldn’t articulate how or why. He simply is.

They understand that he is a “raw” talent who could be something huge, but some may lack knowing what those talents are.

He often quietly enters the game, does what is asked of him in his own characteristic and usually explosive way, then exits as if nothing happened.

He isn’t a very expressive player–we notice those players. They put the spotlight on themselves. It’s a shame Grant isn’t one for recognition, he deserves it. He’s a proper two-way, modern big whose talents aren’t appreciated enough.

Because Grant doesn’t put the spotlight on himself, I figure I’ll do it for him.

What does Grant offer?

Thank you for asking! The answer is: a lot.

Grants strengths show up in the stat sheet in the form of defense and efficient scoring. The numbers may surprise you.

Grant plays limited minutes. Though it might change this year, Grant is one of the first players off the bench for the Thunder.

Grant is humming right around 20 minutes a game for his career.

Last season for the Thunder, Grant averaged 8.4 points per game and 3.9 rebounds.

For the minutes he played, only 16 player seasons in NBA history have produced those numbers with more win shares than Grant.

I was shocked when I found this. See for yourself. This table shows every individual player season in NBA history where a player logged less than 21 minutes a game, and averaged more than 8 points and 3.5 rebounds. Those player seasons are sorted by win shares.

Query Results Table
Crit Crit Crit Crit
Rk Player Season Age Tm Lg MP PTS TRB WS
1 Enes Kanter 2015-16 23 OKC NBA 21.0 12.7 8.1 8.1
2 Bill Cartwright 1987-88 30 NYK NBA 20.4 11.1 4.7 6.4
3 Jim Fox 1970-71 27 CHI NBA 19.9 9.7 7.3 6.1
4 Don Nelson 1967-68 27 BOS NBA 18.3 10.0 5.3 6.1
5 Tom Owens 1977-78 28 POR NBA 20.9 10.1 6.6 6.0
6 Sam Jones 1959-60 26 BOS NBA 20.4 11.9 5.1 5.9
7 Mitch Kupchak 1976-77 22 WSB NBA 18.5 10.4 6.0 5.9
8 Don Nelson 1972-73 32 BOS NBA 19.8 10.8 4.4 5.8
9 Jamaal Magloire 2001-02 23 CHH NBA 18.9 8.5 5.6 5.7
10 Nikola Mirotic 2014-15 23 CHI NBA 20.2 10.2 4.9 5.7
11 James Donaldson 1981-82 24 SEA NBA 20.9 8.1 6.0 5.6
12 Johnny Green 1965-66 32 TOT NBA 20.8 11.6 8.2 5.6
13 Montrezl Harrell 2017-18 24 LAC NBA 17.0 11.0 4.0 5.5
14 Steve Mix 1979-80 32 PHI NBA 19.0 11.6 3.6 5.5
15 Steve Mix 1980-81 33 PHI NBA 18.4 10.8 3.7 5.5
16 Jerami Grant 2017-18 23 OKC NBA 20.3 8.4 3.9 5.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/10/2018.

If I keep going with this and remove  those players who didn’t’ average at least .9 blocks per game, I’m left with this:

Query Results Table
Crit Crit Crit Crit Crit
Rk Player Season Age Tm Lg MP PTS TRB BLK WS
1 Jamaal Magloire 2001-02 23 CHH NBA 18.9 8.5 5.6 1.0 5.7
2 James Donaldson 1981-82 24 SEA NBA 20.9 8.1 6.0 1.7 5.6
3 Jerami Grant 2017-18 23 OKC NBA 20.3 8.4 3.9 1.0 5.4
4 Brandan Wright 2013-14 26 DAL NBA 18.6 9.1 4.2 0.9 5.1
5 Vlade Divac 1989-90 21 LAL NBA 19.6 8.5 6.2 1.4 5.0
6 JaVale McGee 2012-13 25 DEN NBA 18.1 9.1 4.8 2.0 4.9
7 Robert Parish 1976-77 23 GSW NBA 18.0 9.1 7.1 1.2 4.8
8 Stromile Swift 2003-04 24 MEM NBA 19.8 9.4 4.9 1.5 4.8
9 Kevin McHale 1980-81 23 BOS NBA 20.1 10.0 4.4 1.8 4.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/10/2018.

For every individual player season in NBA history, where a player averaged no more than 21 minutes a game, and averaged more than  8 points a game and 3.5 rebounds, only 2 players have done that with more win shares value than Grant.

We have tight constraints on our search, of course.

But there are still only 42 players in NBA history who have averaged 8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and a block in under 21 minutes. Grant is packing in heavy doses of value under some big time restraints.