The OKC Thunder may not be finished with their rebuild just yet, but they are closer to the end than the beginning, and they have intriguing prospects who could make great strides this season, knocking on the door of the most anticipated season since 2017.
With preseason in the rearview mirror and opening night rapidly approaching, let’s examine three underrated OKC Thunder players who could take a big leap this season.
Three most underrated players for the OKC Thunder heading into the 2023-24 NBA season.
But first, some honorable mentions: I am not going to include Cason Wallace because he is a rookie, and he feels properly rated at this time.
His performance in his rookie season is a moot point because anything he does or does not do as a rookie should not swing the OKC Thunder’s season in any direction.
If Wallace is underwhelming, he’ll have 82 games plus an off-season to improve. If he exceeds expectations, that is icing on the cake and gives OKC Thunder bench boss Mark Daigneault another weapon.
Next up would be Tre Mann; despite excellent showings in Summer League, with some exciting flashes, I am not currently buying additional stock in Mann.
This will be a big year for Mann; he is not only fighting for a role on the OKC Thunder but also to maintain a spot in the league. Some players perform well under this immense pressure, while others fold; it is to be determined which way Mann will swing.