OKC Thunder: 3 season goals for Isaiah Roby in 2020-21
Goal 2. Dominate the G-League
There are a number of pathways to the NBA. You can be a dominant force in college and be taken with a high draft pick. Then teams will play you in situations to see whether your skills translate into the top league.
Failing that, as a second-round draft pick, if you don’t make your mark early then the G-League is the best way to show the varsity squad that you deserve some time. So far Roby has not shown that he is at the level where the OKC Thunder will need his talents.
He is not averaging double figures in points or rebounds. He is not high up the league leaders in blocks or steals. He is also not a particularly noted shooter. What Roby is, however, is a very capable defender.
Re-watching the NBA Combine 5-on-5 games. This Isaiah Roby push and hammer dunk really stood out. He showed glimpses of his versatility on both days. More analysis coming tomorrow on ESPN+. pic.twitter.com/Xn0RjqouQ5
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 18, 2019
So, in order for him to be looked at, he needs to hold his defensive level and become known for stopping the opposition’s best wing. This will be very interesting to the Thunder as they value defense very highly.
However, it will not be enough to get him up to the Thunder squad with any regularity. Luguentz Dort is a top-level defender who also had some huge scoring nights for the Blue. This highlighted his effort and intensity which is what Roby needs to do.