Continuing T.I.’s player series it’s time to isolate the top three games for OKC Thunder rookie Darius Bazley which is punctuated by a big dunk over a big man.
OKC Thunder rookie Darius Bazley has wasted no time making his mark on the NBA court. This season he has continued to be on the rise with growing confidence making him a reliable and valuable young player.
A large frame, length and agility makes him a great defender, but he’s also got a magic shooting touch.
Bazley is averaging 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 17.2 minutes on the court. Due to a knee injury sustained in February, he played in only three games during that month and missed action in early March.
November and January were Bazley’s best months in a Thunder uniform where he was putting up 5.5 and 5.6 points a night respectively.
Though he is still young, he has proven be a fast learner, excelling under the mentorship of Chris Paul. This has also led to him putting together some memorable first-year performances.
Here are Bazley’s top three games so far.
Explosive dunk on Embiid:
Not many rookies or NBA players, in general, can say that they have dunked on one of the best centers in the league. But Darius Bazley did just that in forceful fashion against Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid on November 15th.
It was an “on replay” moment as Bazley drove to the basket off a bounce pass from CP3 and slammed it home.
The stat sheet might not show it, but he put up a spectacular effort in OKC’s 127-119 overtime win. He remained self-assured throughout the game, helping the OKC Thunder stay on top, and finishing with five points.
Career-high against New Orleans:
Less than a month into his NBA career, Bazley went for his career-high with 17 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 2nd.
In under 20 minutes of game time, Bazley added five rebounds, a block, three 3-pointers, and shot a perfect 100 percent from the charity stripe.
When talking to the media after the game, Bazley said that Paul had told him to “just keep shooting the ball, whether you miss 30 of them or make 30 of them just keep shooting.”
This helped him to feel comfortable in playing his own game and taking every opportunity. Once he got into a rhythm he couldn’t be stopped.
By the end of the match, he became the youngest OKC Thunder player in franchise history to score in double-digits.
As OKC clinched the 115-104 victory, it was an awesome finish to a night of accolades.
Click here to watch Bazley’s highlights from the game.
Shooting the lights out against Toronto:
Another one of Bazley’s top three games came against the reigning champion Toronto Raptors on December 29th.
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In the OKC Thunder’s 98-97 victory, the rookie scored all 12 of his points from the 3-point line, showing his outstanding offensive strength. He also recorded five rebounds and two massive blocks.
Bazley was in the right place at the right time and found his voice while on the court. His lateral quickness was put on display as he did a phenomenal job of guarding the rim.
Watch Bazley’s highlights via the link.
No matter what happens from here on out, Bazley can be very proud of the rookie year he has had. From having the chance to be in the starting lineup to having the trust of his teammates and stepping up in big moments, it’s been a year to remember.
Although not ideal for fans as we’re greatly missing witnessing OKC Thunder basketball Bazley is one player who’ll benefit from the layoff. The rookie will be fully healed by the time the team returns. The other big factor is the time off will help Bazley avoid hitting the “rookie wall”.
With the playoffs on the horizon having the youngster fully healthy and this time to review film and figure out ways to improve his game will only serve to help both the rookie and his team.