OKC Thunder player grades – OKC enters break on a high note!

The rising rookie is making his mark:

It’s easy to understand why a few analysts compare Theo Maledon to Tony Parker. There are similarities in the way they play albeit the rookie has the two-inch height advantage. Perhaps my favorite thing about the rookie is he doesn’t force his game and constantly contributes to every aspect of the match.

He posted seven points, seven rebounds, five assists, and had a single turnover in a game that produced  26 between the two clubs.

My favorite play (and a sign he’s already earned the officials’ respect) was Patty Mills trying to flop on him and the refs ignoring it — I laughed out loud witnessing Mills fail to pull off something he regularly is successfully doing versus vets (and got away with against Roby).

Clearly, Maledon prefers being a playmaker but it will be fun to watch his offense (and confidence in it) develop because he’s such a high I.Q player and while calm always seems to have that quiet burning competitiveness.

One area he’s still learning to navigate is the minutes with the reserve unit when SGA sits. They aren’t producing consistently. Frequently in this match, Maledon sped up the court and had to wait for teammates. Part of this is due to being shorthanded, but when Hamidou Diallo returns there is reason to believe that duo on their own could be a two-man fast break tandem.

Congrats to Theo for defying the odds by beating out copious prospects picked ahead of him in the 2020 draft to make the Rising Stars World Team!