Andre Roberson makes a comeback, inks deal with the OKC Blue
By Rylan Stiles
Don’t call it a comeback; well, do because that is precisely what Andre Roberson is doing. The former first-round pick for the Oklahoma City Thunder has returned to the organization as of Wednesday night. Roberson has inked a contract with the NBA G-League affiliate the OKC Blue, where he is set to be active for Thursday’s game against the Austin Spurs, a team spokesperson told me.
Four weeks ago, it was revealed Andre Roberson was in town practicing with the Blue, but at the time, when I asked head coach Kameron Woods, he told me the two had not discussed a possible return for the Colorado Product. However, things change fast, as tomorrow night Roberson will see his first game action since March 3rd, 2021.
Andre Roberson returns to the hardwood and inks a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder G-League affiliate, the OKC Blue.
The last time Roberson played in a professional five-on-five game was in March 2021, during a ten-day contract stint with the Brooklyn Nets. That was part of a long journey back from a devastating knee injury suffered in Detriot on January 27th, 2018.
Now, Andre Roberson is set to play professionally again against the Austin Spurs in Austin, Texas, on February 2nd. On Saturday, the 4th, Andre Roberson will grace the Paycom Center floor for the first time since January 25th, 2018. This time though, for the OKC Blue against the Stockton Kings.
Tip-off of that game is slated for noon as part of a doubleheader to set the table for the Thunder’s Saturday night tilt with the Houston Rockets.
So where does this all lead? No one knows. We must see Roberson play before we start envisioning ten-day contracts or roster spots. However, even if the NBA comeback never materializes for Roberson (which it likely will not), it is still a great accomplishment to find his way back to the court and continue chasing his dream.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, this is also incredibly valuable for a team that will shuffle players like Ousmane Dieng and Jaylin Williams to the OKC Blue and now have yet another veteran mentor to learn from, especially on the defensive end.
Kameron Woods was credited with pioneering the Thunder’s defense a season ago, it is clear he has a handle on how to coach that end of the floor, and now he has an extension of himself in Roberson that can run the floor with these guys.