Retrospective of OKC Thunder 2018-19 campaign – player review recap

A retrospective of the 2018-19 OKC Thunder season with a view to individual player growth, lessons learned and areas to focus on for improvement next season.

Entering the 2018-19 season there was more than a little room for optimism. The OKC Thunder were still flying high off their ability to convince Paul George to return to the team and sign a long term deal. While the presumptive thinking around the league was George was a just a one-year rental he proved everyone wrong.

The moral of the story is not to underestimate the value of quality ownership, a well run franchise and yes just how much players (like George) enjoy playing beside Russell Westbrook. Arguably “culture” is overused in the sports franchise business but the reality is there is no discounting its value. Just ask the Lakers players about that concept!

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Midway through the season the OKC Thunder entered the All-Star Break as one of the hottest teams and looked poised to close the season on a terror.  In hindsight, it was precisely this moment fans can point to when the wheels came off for the Thunder. Clearly, the toughest part of the schedule made matters difficult as the team failed to maintain the same defensive prowess facing the cream of the NBA crop.

Paul George’s injury coupled with Russell Westbrook needing to do more also were huge contributing factors.

Season Reviews :

The Thunderous Intentions writing team compiled season reviews for each member of the roster. These profiles addressed each individual from the perspective of their personal performances this past campaign. Specifically, the team looked at highlights, where the player showed growth and looked ahead to what can be improved upon this offseason and in some cases the likelihood of whether the player will return for the 2019-20 season. Here are the links to each of the reviews in case you missed them when they ran initially:

Player Review Recaps:

Russell Westbrook: Analyzing Russell Westbrook’s complicated season – link

Paul George: Lightning Report: Paul George’s MVP-caliber season – link

Steven Adams: Steven Adams can be bigger than ever – link

Jerami Grant: Lightning Report: Jerami Grant’s breakout season – link

Terrance Ferguson: Thunder guard expected to take another leap –link

Dennis Schroder: The second string spark – link

Nerlens Noel: Will vital Thunder reserve be back in 2020?- link

Hamidou Diallo: Diallo is ready for the spotlight, but is his game? – link

Deonte Burton: Revised role should clear path to increased minutes in 2019-20 – link

Abdel Nader: The untapped in house talent – link

Patrick Patterson: ‘The Pro’ – link

Raymond Felton: Ready and steady back-up point guard Raymond Felton – link

Markieff Morris: Why the addition of Markieff Morris did not work – link

Andre Roberson: The lost season: What’s next for defensive master Andre Roberson? – link

Moving forward there are specific categories the players fit into: the core, the young assets, and players who either fall into the veteran category or free agent market.

As the team progresses through the offseason the presumptive thinking is the team will largely look the same next season especially with the salary limitations based on the top heavy contract commitments to the core.

That said, expecting Sam Presti not to make any moves would be naive. And in truth, there have to be moves made since Nerlens Noel and Markieff Morris have likely positioned themselves out of reach for the Thunder.

Stranger things have happened, but it sure feels like the future is riding on the development of the young assets.