Takeaways: OKC Thunder prove to be legit in blowout win over Portland
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder have a great weapon in Isaiah Joe, who is undoubtedly heating up for the Bricktown boys.
The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up Isaiah Joe just before the 2022-23 NBA Season started. Joe was released from the Philadelphia 76ers after being selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Arkansas product got little run with the 76ers, topping out at 11 minutes per game through 55 games in the 2021-22 season. Vince Rozman, who joined the Thunder front office last offseason, was part of the group that drafted Joe in Philadelphia. That relationship helped Isaiah Joe land in Oklahoma City.
Last year was a breakout season for Joe. In year three, he played in a career-high 73 games, making ten starts and shooting a career-best 40 percent from three-point land. That led to him turning in nine points, two rebounds, and as many assists.
Some were worried that hot shooting was a fluke, but Isaiah Joe has quickly put that to rest during the 2023-24 campaign. Isaiah Joe is shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc, averaging a career-high 10 points through the first 15 games.
Against the Portland Trail Blazers, Joe connected on five triples less than 24 hours removed from dropping seven three-pointers on as many attempts in Golden State.