OKC Thunder reserve center Nerlens Noel delivered arguably his most productive season but his future with the team is uncertain. TI looks back on Noel’s 2018-19 campaign with a view to his future.
Although the OKC Thunder season was a disappointment as a whole, it would be unrealistic to say there were no bright spots. The addition of back-up center Nerlens Noel qualifies as one of those few positive marks.
His presence was vital for the Thunder for the majority of the season, his energy and shot blocking prowess were key components of Oklahoma City’s underwhelming bench. Case in point, Noel recorded the second most blocks on the Thunder with 96 and the third most off the bench in the NBA at 90.
*The variation in Noel’s blocks accounts for the two games he started this season.
Therefore, coach Billy Donovan limiting Noel’s minutes down the stretch provided a huge question mark for Billy D’s Thunder. Perhaps, Sam Presti was trying to drive down Noel’s value due to Steven Adams potentially being on the chopping block.
Interestingly, Noel played the fewest minutes per game during the 2018-19 campaign of his entire career. Intriguingly, it translated to possibly his best season as a pro. The 77 games Noel appeared in surpassed his previous career high of 75 games, established in his rookie season.
Hence: Noel spending more time on the hardwood could have provided the Thunder a better chance to win. That is in the past, but before looking into the future, let’s take a look at Nerlens 2018-19 campaign with the OKC Thunder.