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3 Thunder Players Entering a ‘Make or Break’ Season

By Justin Schwarze

Josh Giddey #3 and Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder join teammates as they dump water on Tre Mann #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Josh Giddey #3 and Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder join teammates as they dump water on Tre Mann #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) /
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Tre Mann
Tre Mann #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

Can former OKC Thunder first-round pick Tre Mann turn things around?

Since being a first-round pick in 2021, Tre Mann has found an inconsistent role with the Thunder. Despite not shooting the ball well from the field, Mann had a very promising rookie season, averaging 10 points per game in just over 22 minutes a night.

Some standout rookie performances from Mann had him in the spotlight, including 30 points against the Knicks at the Garden and a Thunder rookie record 35 points against the Celtics.

Going into year two, Tre Mann struggled at Summer League and saw his role shrink over the season. His minutes dropped to just over 17 per game, and as the season went on and the Thunder kept winning games, his role dwindled even more.

In March, Mann only averaged 14 minutes per game, and it was clear he was relegated to a permanent bench role due to the surge of rookie Jalen Williams.

Mann’s spot as a rotation guard has become even more unclear recently due to the signing of highly respected European guard Vasilije Micic and the lottery selection of tenacious guard Cason Wallace.

Mann brings a unique skill set to the OKC Thunder, with his shooting ability paired with his extremely high-level pace with the ball and shot creation skills. He has shown flashes of his handle and capability to get to spots where he is comfortable, which really entices the Thunder.

However, his shooting percentage still remains below 40 percent for his career, which can keep him off the floor.

Not all is bad for Mann, as he was superb in July’s Summer League. He displayed improved shot-creating and making, but his confidence was vital. He scored confidently through finishes at the rim, hot shooting from beyond the arc, and even a highlight reel poster dunk.

If he continues to play with a high level of confidence and knocks down a few more shots, Mann may well find himself as a critical contributor to the offense and a bench scorer next season. However, if his role continues to dwindle and he remains lost, the Thunder may look in other directions about possibly moving on from Mann amongst the crowded backcourt.

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