OKC Thunder player review: Dennis Schröder the second string spark

The second team stabilizer

Dennis Schröder answered the call he was given as a backup point guard this past season. He was far and away more productive and valuable than Terrance Ferguson, but he was needed as a leader for the reserves, so he did exactly that. Schröder was a much needed steadying force from the bench and had several standout performances this past season.

He started off the season with a bang by scoring 21 points against the Golden State Warriors, a game in which he also had eight rebounds and six assists. On the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers he notched 28 points to go along with seven rebounds.

As an encore, Schröder put up a whopping 32 points, four rebounds, and four assist the next time the Thunder faced off against Golden State. A couple weeks before the All-Star break he tallied 28 points and two rebounds against the Miami Heat.

Right around the time the fight for playoff seeding really set in, Schröder dumped 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists against the Toronto Raptors in their second game of their home and away series. Finally, he logged 32 points, five rebounds, and three assists against a resting Milwaukee Bucks team in the final week of the regular season.

Below are a few clips of some memorable shots from those games, including this play that showcases some of Schröder’s ability to switch gears and adjust on the fly.

Next, we see Schröder’s ability to play through contact with a soft touch finish at the end.

Lastly, we get a glimpse into Schröder’s shiftiness and ability to scramble for points when plays break down.

As can be seen in the clips above, Schröder is a dynamic playmaker. He brings a broad skill set that allowed him to flourish as both an individual and teammate in Oklahoma City’s system. However, things aren’t always as they seem when one steps back to analyze the bigger picture, as is the case with Dennis Schröder.