OKC Thunder: ESPN pegs Maledon and Pokusevski as rookies with future potential

In a season where development and growth have taken precedence for the OKC Thunder, on many nights the rookies have provided the highlights.

From the start, the rookie class of 2020 didn’t experience the usual path to the pros. Nor did they get to experience typical events like the NBA Combine, pre-draft workouts, and Vegas Summer League. The pandemic removed those options and continues to impact their inaugural experience.

On the other hand, with the Thunder in their ‘resiliency’ era, it has afforded Theo Maledon and Aleksej Pokusevski with opportunity. As the Thunder set their sights on the future and building from the draft this could be the mandate for the next several years.

Pokusevski was viewed as the big risk, big reward swing. The Thunder sent their 25th and 28th picks to the Wolves along with Ricky Rubio and James Johnson (both of whom were picked up in prior trades).

Maledon was selected 34th by the 76ers and was part of the draft-night deal that brought Al Horford to OKC. Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson were sent back to Philly.

ESPN cites OKC Thunder Poku and Maledon as ones to watch

ESPN writers Mike Schmitz and Kevin Pelton recently created their top 10 list of rookies. Given how different this season has gone Schmitz and Pelton approached the ranking more from a long-term perspective. They examined the rookies with a view to which players have staying power and could be future stars.

While LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton got plenty of love from the ESPN writers other rookies also drew their attention.

Neither Theo or POKU made the top 10 list but Schmitz recognized them as players to watch. Schmitz is one of the best at assessing the NCAA talent and draft prospects so his hat tip to the Thunder rookies isn’t hyperbole.

"Lastly, I’m really interested to follow the trajectory of international prospects like Aleksej Pokusevski and Killian Hayes, both of whom went higher than most NBA personnel expected. Theo Maledon is another name to keep an eye on."

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missing substantial time Maledon got tapped as the starting point guard and the experience is paying dividends.

In 60 games he’s averaging 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.9 steals. Maledon plays beyond his year’s demonstrating the calm of a seasoned vet. Breaking his season into segments Theo has improved as the year progressed.

TI consistently states the experience he’s gaining will pay dividends in the future. That his production is growing despite SGA being out, Al Horford shut down plus inconsistent appearances by Darius Bazley and Luguentz Dort makes his production all the more impressive.

Aleksej Pokusevski is also impressing. A consistent comment made by analysts and experts is how they are fascinated by his game. Although he needs to add weight and at times looked like a deer in headlights there were equal glimpses of that “wow” potential.

Numerous times this season POKU has delivered a pass that falls into the jaw-dropping category. If Maledon has demonstrated consistent growth Pokusevski offers night and day differences from when he returned from the G-League and entered the starting rotation.

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Through his first 17 games, POKU played a bench role averaging 3.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game (mpg). His shooting clearly needed work as he shot 24.7 percent from the field and 17.9 from the perimeter.

As a starter in the last 24 games, Pokusevski is averaging 10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.9 blocks. While his playing time increased as a starter (to 27.6 mpg) the efficiency also highlights his growth with upticks to 35.2 percent from the field and 29.5 from the perimeter are markedly better. Granted, he’s still wildly inconsistent and needs to spend hours this offseason working on his shooting.

Ultimately, neither made the ESPN top 10 lists of Pelton and Schmidt. Yet the fact they garnered recognition with so many rookies making an impact this season while playing on an OKC Thunder club which many nights features players who would be buried on most benches speaks to their growth and potential.

After all, it’s all about the future in OKC!