OKC Thunder: Abdel Nader season and contract grades
After a slow start to the season, Abdel Nader showed that hard work pays off for the OKC Thunder.
After a difficult start to the season for the OKC Thunder, Abdel Nader showed us all that hard work gets rewarded. Over the first 16 games of the season, Nader played in only nine of them, receiving seven DNP – coaches decisions.
His playing time was sporadic. He received as little as five minutes in the loss to the Houston Rockets and as much as 19 minutes in the loss against the Indiana Pacers. Then, in his tenth game of the season, everything changed for Nader.
In just over 17 minutes, Nader would shoot the lights out finish with 23 points in the 17 point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. For the rest of December, he was a key piece in the rotation. Not bad for a player who looked as though he should go back to the G-League early in the season.
The OKC Thunder moved in a different direction to Abdel Nader in January
January did not go as well for the 26-year old. The Thunder had gone through a small series of injuries and Nader was doing his bit for the team. As all the players came back he started losing playing time again.
Chris Paul on Abdel Nader’s play the last two games: “He playing with the right spirit, letting the game come to him and shooting it with confidence.” pic.twitter.com/BuupAPmD4i
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) November 30, 2019
Then he sprained his ankle in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and missed the next eight games. The Thunder turned to two-way player Luguentz Dort to come in and give good minutes. He played so well he won the starting role while Nader was out.
For the rest of the season, Nader was used as a rotation piece except in big wins or big losses. He was given plenty of court time in those games. It remains to be seen if Nader did enough for the OKC Thunder to exercise his team option for next year.