Grading the OKC Thunder 2023 FIBA World Cup run

The OKC Thunder were well represented at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Tournament wrapped up on Sunday with Germany taking home gold, led by former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, Jack White, and Davis Bertans all participating in the event, it is time to wrap up the Summer classic by handing out grades.

Team Canada reached the third-place game, where they knocked off Team USA to earn the Bronze medal. Team Australia finished in the top ten of the tournament, and Latvia could go on an electric ride on the back of Bertans’ three-point shooting.

Grading the OKC Thunder players from the 2023 FIBA World Cup Tournament, who stood out?

The OKC Thunder saw varying roles for their players with their home countries. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey were their team’s best players, while Lu Dort and Davis Bertans played complementary roles, and Jack White was featured as a depth piece.

Grading Jack White’s FIBA World Cup run: 

The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Jack White via free agency this Summer. Inking him to that standard pact does not guarantee access to the opening night roster. Sam Presti is no stranger to this maneuver, previously signing Ronnie Price in the Summer Months before cutting him before the October opener.

Training camp will be a battle for Jack White, and he might not have an inside lane just because they inked him to an above-market value deal, seemingly bidding against themselves. However, White’s contract features a lot of non-guarantees.

Jack White made the squad for Team Australia, and there was a potential role for him after the unfortunate injury to Jock Landale. However, that role never materialized.

White averaged just two possessions per game, playing in five contests, on his way to three points and two rebounds. The former Denver Nuggets two-way wing offered the Boomers a ton of energy.

No one could question his motor, effort, energy, or juice each time they elected to put him in. He did his best on the defensive end, even when out-matched down low. There is no doubt that Jack White plays a Thunder-y role, but the issue is the Thunder have many guys who do more than White can offer right now.

Grade: Incomplete; given his lack of playing time, assigning White a letter grade is tough. Think of him as the smart kid in class who never turned in his homework.