Following in the example inked by Chris Paul, the big man arrived in OKC and is reminding the NBA why he inked his current contract in the first place.
Big Al delivers on all fronts averaging 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks.
In addition, he’s helping SGA with leadership on and off the court and is one of the big reasons why the OKC Thunder have maintained their defensive prowess.
In 24 games he’s reached double-figure scoring in all but four games and in one of those matches grabbed 13 rebounds as he focused on cleaning the glass.
Sam Presti will likely seek a trade partner for the big man but he won’t rush to trade him if the package isn’t right as Horford has two seasons remaining on his contract.
The glimpses of potential are on full display with nights where his potential is obvious. As coach Mark Daigneault reminding this is a new role for Darius Bazley who is now a full-time starter. That’s a big leap for a 20-year old in his second season but he’s risen to the challenge.
Bazley is averaging 11.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists having appeared in all 36 games of the first half.
Although his 3-point shot tends to come and go his nine double-double efforts this season speak to this growth. He finished the first half strong reaching that benchmark in three of the final four matches.
The one player (other than SGA) who has cemented his spot on the future core is Luguentz Dort. Although Dort earned his recognition for being a defensive specialist he put in the work in the offseason to improve his offensive skillset. While there are nights where the 3-ball is off the fact he is tasked with the hardest defensive assignment nightly is a big factor.
.@luthebeast was ready. pic.twitter.com/LnxjvO0VuK
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 25, 2021
And then there are nights where he steps directly into the spotlight and takes over like his game-winner against the Spurs. In fact, Dort leads the team with 68 made 3-pointers, and has scored three or more 3-pointers on 10 occasions this season.
Through the first half Dort almost doubled his scoring output from last season with 12.3 points per game (up from 6.8). In addition, he averages 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
Like Bazley, Isaiah Roby is playing a new role this season having only appeared in three varsity games last season. Roby also easily slides into the starting lineup when Al Horford sits. Perhaps the best testament to his growth and potential is just how well that unit has performed and Roby is a big reason why.
Roby is averaging 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists through 30 games played. In his 12 starts, Roby improved across the key statistical categories averaging 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.