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OKC Thunder: 3 season goals for Theo Maledon in 2020-21

By Matthew Hallett

OKC Thunder draft prospect profiles: France's Theo Maledon tries a shot at the point guard contest during an All Star Game (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder draft prospect profiles: France's Theo Maledon tries a shot at the point guard contest during an All Star Game (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images) /

Season goal for Theo Maledon No. 1) Get comfortable with his surroundings

Like Aleksej Pokusevski, who was the other pick taken in the 2020 NBA draft, Maledon needs to get comfortable with his new surroundings. A French native, Maledon now has to get used to a different country, different language, and a different basketball league.

At 19, this can not be an easy prospect but Maledon has been mentored by ex-San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker. This is one of the best things that could have happened for Maledon as Parker, who is also a French native, was able to come over to the United States for a long and successful career.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1327068665670320129?s=20

Parker was part of the trio of players who has the record for most wins in NBA history, so Maledon could not have had a better mentor. The similarities between the two players are uncanny. Parker was taken with the 28th pick, Maledon was the 34th pick. Both also come into the NBA at 19 years of age.

Both players also ended up in a similar location in the United States so Maledon has a potential leg up on other players in his situation. Hopefully, this means that Maledon can acclimatize faster and show his potential earlier as a result.

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