OKC Thunder: OKC Blue set to have an interesting season

The OKC Thunder are glad to have the NBA G-League return to a normal season as their G-Leauge Affiliate goes from playing in the NBA G-League Bubble for 12 games last year to playing year around this season. The G-League slate kicks off on November 5th at the Paycom Center against the Salt Lake City Stars.

While you may not be counting down the hours until the OKC Thunder G-Leauge affiliate hits the floor, this year is one of the years you want to keep a close eye on the Blue. Mark Daigneault and Sam Presti have made it clear, they will use this G-League season as a key developmental tool.

The OKC Thunder G-League affiliate is set for an interesting year

The Oklahoma City Blue will hit the hardwood on November 5th in the Paycom Center, and this weekend begins multiple day-night doubleheaders at the Paycom Center with the Blue playing in the afternoon as a precursor to the OKC Thunder nightcap.

The OKC Thunder have already assigned 2021 first-round pick, Tre Mann, to the Blue and he has gone through G-Leauge training camp and seems primed for the team’s season opener. Vit Krejci, a 2020 NBA Second Round pick, is also assigned to the G-League as he rehabs from an ACL tear.

The two-way contracts of Aaron Wiggins, a 2021 NBA Second Round pick and NBA veteran Paul Watson Jr are also G-Leauge bound for now.

Training camp invites like DJ Wilson, Zavier Simpson, Jaylen Hoard, Rob Edwards, Melvin Frazier, Scotty Hopson, Olivier Sarr, and Michael Gbinije all are featured on the OKC Blue roster as well.

A few local college standouts will also get run with the OKC Blue, like University of Central Oklahoma guard Anthony Roberson and Oklahoma State guard Lindy Waters III.

Marlon Taylor, Tevin King, Ty Gadsden, and Justin Jaworski round out the NBA G-Leauge roster initially. The head coach, Grant Gibbs has found success in his young coaching career and is on the same page on how to develop players with Mark Daigneault.

However, the G-League roster is far from finalized, in addition to the aforementioned NBAers on the squad now, Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, Ty Jerome, Isaiah Roby, are all prime candidates to be sent to the OKC Blue according to Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault.

With the G-League returning to a non-bubble slate, this is also the fan’s first look at the NBA G-League Ignite which once again fosters a few top prospects in the upcoming draft namely Jaden Hardy and Michael Foster Jr. Team Ignite plays host to the OKC Blue on December 3rd and 5th in the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

As the Thunder organization focuses entirely on player development, the OKC Blue will be a huge part of that. Opening night will feature Tre Mann running the show and with his shot creation and shooting distance, you will not want to miss it. Stay tuned for OKC Blue coverage right here all year long.