Tre Mann posts 35 points at G-League showcase

The Oklahoma City Thunder sent sophomore guard Tre Mann down to the NBA G-League last week after Mann got off to a sluggish start to his second NBA season. This was a planned visit to the G-League for Mann, as Mark Daigneault explained the Florida product will spend the week with the OKKC Blue in Vegas at the NBA G-League showcase before being recalled on Tuesday, December 27th as it stands right now.

The former first-round pick played in 27 games at the NBA level to the tune of eight points, two rebounds, and an assist per game this season on 38 percent shooting from the floor and a lowly 28 percent shooting from deep for a player who has his skillset predicated on stroking it from downtown. Even his Free throw percentage dipped by 11 percent which points to something being off with his jumper in a big way.

The Oklahoma City Thunder see Tre Mann dominate his NBA G-League season debut with 35 points to get back on track in Vegas

This has been a wacky season for Tre Mann, who came into Media Day looking noticeably bigger, then in the preseason, he put on a clinic on both ends of the floor scoring the ball well and playing improved defense which was eye-popping.

Six of Mann’s first seven NBA games this year featured him logging double-figures in scoring but from there, he only had five more in the next 20 games on poor efficiency. Mixed in there was a three-game absence for a  back injury in the middle of November which could have lingered long enough to cause the poor play.

Either way, Mark Daigneault thought it was best to send Mann to the G-League to help him find his rhythm with Kameron Woods and the OKC Blue.

Not a bad time to be sent to the G-League as the Blue are in Vegas this week for the NBA G-League Winter Showcase, and in the first game of the showcase for OKC, Mann put on quite the show.

Tre Mann posted 35 points, on 12-of-20 shooting, with four rebounds and going 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. He helped lead Oklahoma City to a 31-point victory on Wednesday.

Shooting 60 percent from the floor is a noticeable improvement for Mann, who played with the ball in his hands a lot in the Showcase and did a good job navigating the pick and roll. It was good to see Mann stepping into triples from two or three steps beyond the three-point line as well.

The OKC Blue and Mann are back in action on Thursday night on the G-League website. However, the Blue will be shorthanded as fellow assignee Jaylin Williams has been placed in concussion protocol.