OKC Thunder: 3 season goals for Aleksej Pokusevski in 2020-21

After trading up in the 2020 NBA draft the OKC Thunder got their man in Aleksej Pokusevski. Here are three goals for his rookie season in 2020-21.

Going into the 2020 NBA draft the OKC Thunder had two first-round picks thanks to the Dennis Schroder trade. These picks were the 26th and 28th which they then combined with Ricky Rubio and Jaden McDaniels in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In return, the Thunder received James Johnson, Aleksej Pokusevski, and two second-round draft picks. The only part of this deal that the Thunder can use this season is Pokusevski after he signed his rookie deal on the 1st of December.

The Thunder are high on Pokusevski and this was the first move from Sam Presti which used only a small amount of his war chest picks. They wanted their man and Presti had the capital and the know-how to get the deal done.

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The OKC Thunder moved up the draft to select the youngest player in it. Pokusevski was only 18 years old at the time of the draft. Making the move to get a player like Pokusevski makes sense for the Thunder given that they are now in full rebuild mode.

The forward is a 7’0″ floor-spacing big man who can handle the ball like a guard. He is not a natural center, given that he is not a good rim protector but has shown that he is a good team defender at the level he was playing at last season. He is a pick a pop player who now has time to develop without pressure.

If the Thunder missed on this pick it is not the end of the world. He can develop his body and his game as the Thunder grow into a better team. With that in mind, lets’ take a look at the three goals for Aleksej Pokusevski in the 2020-21 season.

Season goal for Aleksej Pokusevski No. 1) Get comfortable

The first challenge for any player from outside the United States is to try and acclimatize to the way of life in their new country. Then there is the added challenge of getting to know the new city that you are playing in and are a representative of.

There is also potentially a language barrier as most Europeans have English as their second or even third language. Each obstacle must be hurdled in order for a player to perform at their best on any given night.

The Thunder witnessed Alex Abrines become so homesick that he left the team during the middle of a season and has not returned to the NBA. It is a huge thing to uproot your life and move to another continent.

Add to this Pokusevski is just 18 years old. He is going to have to navigate all of this during his formative years. If he can do that, and stay with the team for his rookie contract, then he has a level of mental toughness about him. That is going to be huge.

The Thunder are an extremely supportive organization, They will everything in their power to help him feel at home as soon as possible. One good thing is that there are seven other Serbian players in the league and this may help Pokusevski get acclimatized.

Season goal for Aleksej Pokusevski No. 2) Establish himself in the rotation

Even though he is the highest draft pick for the OKC Thunder since Cameron Payne who was picked 14th in the 2015 draft. This does not guarantee Pokusevski a spot in the rotation. Obviously, the Thunder will want to know what they have drafted and he will get time on the court.

However, it is up to the player to take the opportunity presented and run with it. Pokusevski will not need to do huge amounts to earn more playing time though. He will have to shoot the ball effectively and learn how to play within the OKC Thunder systems.

Due to the Thunder trying to lose, if he can show a level of development along with a good work ethic, he will have done his job getting into the rotation. Winning is not important this year, development is.

Pokusevski, as mentioned earlier is a good team defender, however, he has a lack of explosiveness which will not allow him to be a solid rim protector in the NBA. If he can work on his body so that he can develop his athleticism, this will also help cement a spot for him in the rotation.

Season goal for Aleksej Pokusevski No. 3) Learn

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While this point may seem a little simple, it is the most important factor for any new player in the NBA. As a rookie, Pokusevski is going to be able to learn about the league but it goes much deeper than that. There are so many avenues to learn in the NBA.

He is going to have to learn how to keep his body right for the grind of the NBA season. Nothing can prepare you for the rigors of an NBA season like an NBA season. Days off are usually spent traveling or practicing, sometimes you get to rest.

Then there is learning from the coaches and trainers, all of whom are some of the best at their job in the world.

Then there is the basketball itself. He is going to have to learn what coach Mark Daigneault wants on different plays both offensively and defensively. Pokusevski is going to need to learn his role along with every other player’s role on the court.

Then, he is going to be able to learn from the experienced guys about the little things that not many people outside of the inner sanctum know. Being a rookie in a new league in a new city in a new country is going to be the biggest learning experience of any young player’s life.