Grading OKC Thunder players at the halfway mark
Oklahoma City Thunder. SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER. A+. . G/F
Entering the season the keys to the franchise were handed to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And while his talent was already obvious what the cornerstone accomplished this season was far and above expectations.
As the alpha, it was projected SGA would get many more touches and be tasked with carrying the load. The reality is his touches have only increased from 14.5 to 15.6. The true surprise is the incredible efficiency he’s delivered that has everyone sitting up and taking notice.
Adding fuel to his Most Improved Player candidacy is how he’s embraced the leadership role.
SGA is averaging 23.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists all upgrades over last season. Correspondingly he’s shooting 51.1 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from deep, and 79.4 percent from the stripe. The latter two both improving as the season progresses.
He notched a career-best 42 points against the Spurs in a victory and has three double-double performances this season.
B+. . G. Oklahoma City Thunder. GEORGE HILL
It would be easy to give George Hill an “A” grade given how he performed early in the season but not being available knocks him back slightly.
Still, he’ll be a coveted traded asset at the deadline. This season he’s averaging 11.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Where he shines is his perimeter prowess (38.6 percent on 4.1 attempts) and his calm demeanor in running the team.
THEO MALEDON. A. . PG. Oklahoma City Thunder
While 29 teams slept on the young Theo Maledon fortunately for OKC Thunder fans Sam Presti and his scouting team were wide away. Drafted 34th overall the youngster has easily taken to the pros and is growing often seemingly in each occasion he steps on the court.
The rookie is averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals in his 31 games played in the first half. However, the reason his grade gets the uptick is for how easily he slid into the starting rotation where he improved those statistics to 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in those 16 matches.
The huge improvement is with his perimeter shot which jumped to 40.0 percent as a starter from 28.8 percent as a reserve.
Maledon matched Russell Westbrook as the only other rookie to record 12 assists which he accomplished in the win versus the Hawks.