OKC Thunder: 3 players who have changed their fates in 2020-21
By Mark Nilon
OKC Thunder player No. 2) Justin Jackson
Acquired this offseason from the Dallas Mavericks via trade, Justin Jackson has been quite a pleasant surprise for this OKC Thunder team this year, especially throughout the month of February.
Since being drafted 15th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, the former Tar Heel has struggled to find a consistent role for his respective ball clubs.
Finding himself playing on two different teams in the Sacramento Kings and Mavericks, while also seeing action in the G League through the first four years of his career, the wing saw his playing time dwindle as the years went on.
In 2020-21, this downward trend has seemingly come to a halt.
Through 16 games, Jackson is logging 18.6 minutes per game and posting 8.2 points and 2.6 rebounds on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 34 percent shooting from deep.
As stated earlier, his February returns have proven to be even more impressive, as he’s averaging 11.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on a fantastic 49 percent shooting from the floor and 43 percent shooting from downtown, including two 20+ point performances and a game-sealing triple in the closing seconds of their SGA-less victory of the Bucks.
Still only 25-years-old, it appears the Thunder may have found themselves a quality role player as they move forward into this rebuild.