OKC Thunder beyond the numbers: Terrance Ferguson

‘OKC Thunder beyond the numbers’ is back to analyze another statistically quiet OKC player: Terrance Ferguson.

If you are a follower of mine, you knew this topic was coming. I’ve been a fan of Terrance Ferguson since his first suit-up last season, but sometimes it feels like I walk a lonely road as a TFerg fan.

The 19 year old was welcomed into OKC in October of last year. Ferguson averaged 3.1 points for his NBA career debut season. He put up 3 points in the playoff series with a 1.1 game score through the three games he played. A relatively quiet start aside from his 24-point performance in Los Angeles and a handful of double-digit games.

This season, Ferguson has appeared in the starting lineup for every game that he was active. He is averaging 4.4 points on 37.6 percent shooting. He’s the only usual starter to average single-digit scoring.

In the NBA, sure numbers are important. But, I have a hard time saying a full stat line is how to determine a player’s worth. A player shouldn’t be reduced to categorical statistics to evaluate his impact on his team or even the game of basketball. They can’t all be Westbrooks, right?

If a robust stat line was all it took to be a good player, well no one would care about James Harden‘s foul tactics or Kevin Durant betraying OKC. The words ‘Draymond Green‘ may actually not leave a bad taste in your mouth. If it were only about the numbers, you can bet your bottom dollar we wouldn’t be seeing Paul George sporting blue and orange this season.

If it were just about the numbers, we wouldn’t have a young shooting guard averaging a mere 3.5 points for his NBA career in the OKC Thunder starting lineup.

So, Terrance Ferguson, what is beyond your numbers?