The importance of Nerlens Noel to the OKC Thunder

As Nerlens Noel prepares to face his original team, it is time to look at his importance to the OKC Thunder.

OKC Thunder reserve center Nerlens Noel, taken with pick No.6 in the 2013 draft by the then New Orleans Hornets, was then traded less than a month later to the Philadelphia 76ers. He would play 171 games where he averaged 10.2 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Due to a plethora of young, talented big men, the 76ers decided to trade Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. At this time the 76ers, mistakenly, in my opinion, chose to trade Noel first.  He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks where he would play 52 games in two and a half injury plagued seasons.

Finally, Noel would sign with the OKC Thunder and he has been, in my opinion, a lynchpin of the second unit. He has always been a tremendous defensive center, but he added to his game over time and is now so much more. This includes the fact he can step in for Steven Adams in the starting lineup as required.

First, let us concentrate on how his defense changes the way teams play. Last season Noel had a block or more in 61 of his 77 games. He had two blocks or more in 24 games which shows that Noel is a tremendous rim protector.

There have been countless times this season that Noel has blocked a shot. The next time that the opposition comes down the court, they change their offense so that they do not have to go into the paint to take on Noel.

Against the New Orleans Pelicans, he had six blocks. However, probably the best block of the season is the one against the Golden State Warriors.

https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1193359899171983363?s=20

Taking a closer look, this sort of defense gets noticed by EVERYONE around the league.

https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1193360834837254144?s=20

Noel is an exceptional one on one defender and is also averaging 0.8 steals per game. However, Noel has added passing to his game and is now a viable option on offense, over and above the rim rocking dunks he is famous for.

Try stopping this if you are an opposition defense.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1188550169513676806?s=20

Noel is even joking about being a point guard in  6’11’ body in his latest 1-on-1 interview with OKCThunder.com’s Nick Gallo.

While the OKC Thunder is not as high up in the standings as they were last year, there is serious development on show across the entire organization.

With Nerlens Noel showcasing this great development, let’s hope he makes the 76ers regret the day they ever traded him.