OKC Thunder: 2 players that could exceed expectations in 2020-21
By Mark Nilon
OKC Thunder player who could outperform expectations No. 1) Darius Bazley
Heading into this year’s campaign, second-year forward for the OKC Thunder, Darius Bazley is easily one of the most underrated players that fans should keep their eyes on.
With the fact that Daigneault is likely to ride the team’s youth hard, the idea of the 20-year-old getting a large uptick in minutes is not difficult to envision. With this said, it should also be believed that an increased amount of playing time should also come with an increase in per-game numbers.
During his rookie season, Bazley managed to post solid per game numbers of 5.6 points, four rebounds, and just shy of a block per game on 35 percent shooting from deep. However, it was his postseason performance that has us at TI believing a breakout could be on the horizon with his expected increased role.
Through seven games played, the young forward put up averages of 6.6 points and 6.7 rebounds on 42 percent shooting from the floor, a whopping 50 percent shooting from deep (on 3.1 attempts per game), and a box plus-minus of 5.7 (the highest rating on the entire team).
Simply put, under the bright lights of the playoffs while also in the midst of a global pandemic, Darius Bazley managed to show out.
Likely to replace Danilo Gallinari’s role in the starting rotation, the sophomore baller is pegged by my co-expert Tamberlyn Richardson as having a real shot at surprising OKC Thunder fans this year.