OKC Thunder: 2 high-potential scorers team should consider pursuing
By Mark Nilon
OKC Thunder target No. 1) Jalen Green
Perhaps my personal favorite prospect heading into this upcoming draft not named Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green is a stupendous talent who looks to have the making of an all-out stud at the next level.
At 6-5, the 19-year-old has the ideal size for a modern-day wing while his skillset seamlessly flows right along into said category as well.
Opting to take his talents to the pros right from high school rather than committing to play at the collegiate level — received offers from a plethora of top-notch programs such as Arizona, Florida State, Auburn, etc. –, Green ultimately inked a one-year, $500,000 contract with the NBA G League Ignite for the 2020-21 season where he simply showed out.
In 15 games played, the wing posted per-game averages of 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 37 percent shooting from deep.
A natural scorer, Green can seemingly finish at the rim with his otherwordly athleticism just as easily as he can stroke it from the mid to long-range with his fluid shooting stroke.
Unlike the majority of this year’s incoming talents who have displayed impressive scoring abilities, Green has actually proven capable of doing it against actual professionals. Though it may be the G League, virtually every one of their members has already played in or has actually shown to have the potential of contending for an NBA roster.
These are grown men that find themselves scattered around the developmental league and the youthful Jalen Green naturally managed to find a way to stand out.
With his game often being compared to All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Zach LaVine (two elite shot creators), the Ignite star could easily find himself being tabbed as the best scorer coming out of this year’s rookie class.