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The Days of Thunder: Week one OKC Thunder recap

By Rylan Stiles

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
Josh Giddey is #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

OKC Thunder rookies are on fire to start the season

The Oklahoma City Thunder had an important and interesting 2021 NBA Draft. Sam Presti, who is widely regarded as one of the best GMs in the league, was highly questioned for his selections such as Josh Giddey at pick-six, Tre Mann at 18 after trading away Alprene Sengun who was the 16th pick. The organization’s head decision-maker also traded up to nab Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and ended the night with Aaron Wiggins at pick 55.

Alprene Sengun did Presti no favors when he lit up Summer League for the Houston Rockets in Vegas weeks after the trade. Since then, Sengun has slowed down and statistically has the same raw numbers as Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, a second-round small ball center that earned his first start on Tuesday.

Josh Giddey, who many had questions about entering the season has been everything and more you would hope from a rookie. The rookie duo of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Giddey rank seven and tenth on NBA dot coms Rookie Ladder for week one.

Giddey has been incredible in the young season, in the mid-range, Giddey is shooting 47-percent. When shooting from 4-14 feet, Giddey remains at 47 percent, before jumping to 50-percent on shots from 14-feet to inside the three-point line.

The sixth overall pick is perfect on corner three’s this season, two-for-two, and overall shooting 38-percent from three-point land.

Defensively, Josh Giddey has been overwhelmingly impressive considering the expectations placed on him, Giddey is in the 96th percentile in steal percentage (2.5-percent) and 79th percentage in block percentage (0.9-percent).

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is shooting 71-percent at the rim, 50-percent from the mid-range, and 62-percent on non-corner threes improving his triple percentage to 55-percent overall. Four games into his career, the Villanova product already has a start under his belt and might be in line for another tonight against the Lakers even as Derrick Favors returns from rest.

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