Hasheem Thabeet who last played in the NBA for the OKC Thunder in 2013-14 tried out for the Golden State Warriors to help fill their injury riddled frontcourt.
Talk about a blast from the past, former OKC Thunder center Hasheem Thabeet is back in the news as he worked out in an attempt to impress the Golden State Warriors. Ben Stinar of Amico Hoops was the first to report on the try-out.
To say the Golden State is set to experience plenty of change this season is an understatement. First of all the new home of the Warriors the Chase Center’ has replaced Oracle. I might be the only one sad to see ‘Roar’-acle close, but there is something sentimental and LOUD about those more intimate arenas. The Palace and the original Boston Garden being other examples.
The big change for the Warriors come courtesy of player exits and injuries. Kevin Durant left for the Brooklyn Nets, Andre Iguodala is with the Memphis Grizzlies (for now), Shaun Livingston retired and Klay Thompson is out at least until the All-Star Break. As far as incoming talent the Dubs got D’Angelo Russell through a sign and trade for K.D. and picked up Willie Cauley-Stein via free agency.
Thabeet may have a shot at making the Warriors club (at least initially) due to all the gaps and current injuries in the frontcourt. Kevon Looney who played through the NBA Finals with an injured rib returned but is sidelined now due to a hamstring injury. Likewise, Stein and rookie Alen Smailagic are both out nursing foot and ankle injuries respectively.
League source: The Golden State Warriors brought in former #2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet for a workout today.
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) October 5, 2019
Thabeet is a 7’3” athletic big man, and the Warriors have dealt with recent injuries at the Center position.
These injuries specifically could open the door for Thabeet who says he spent the last five years out of the league redefining and developing his game to fit the new era NBA.
In an article by David Cobb of the Memphis Commercial Appeal Thabeet spoke to the revamping of his game and specific time spent on his offense. Although the big man speaks to expanding his range it sounds more like the mid-range would be his emphasis (although he does say out to the 23′ mark as per Cobb).
"“One thing that might be shocking people is the past few months and few years that I haven’t really been playing I’ve been working on my shot,” Thabeet said. “Just to be able to score away from the basket, rather than just posting up and shooting hook shots.”"
The other notable comment from Cobb’s article is the performance efficiency of Thabeet:
"Thabeet played in Japan for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the 2017-18 season, averaging 13.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. His performance efficiency rating of 23.28 in the Japanese league would have made him a top-25 NBA player if it translated to the NBA."
Thabeet played his college ball with UConn prior to his 2009 draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. The 7’3″ center played five seasons in the NBA with his final two seasons with the OKC Thunder where he appeared in 89 games. A scan of Thabeet’s basketball reference stats points to him never attempting a 3-point shot.
In his two seasons with the Thunder Thabeet averaged 2.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 10.8 minutes per game.