This Sam Presti-led OKC Thunder front office has had an absurd hit rate in NBA Drafts over the years.
Whether it's the three different eventual league MVPs being snatched up in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, or the collection of stellar late-round finds like Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins, examples of Oklahoma City's elite scouting skills are truly a dime a dozen.
Of course, even with their ample success stories, there are scattered instances of rather noteworthy misses as well.
One of said draft flops is currently trying to make his way back into the association after a two-season hiatus.
Former Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski interested in NBA comeback
Aleksej Pokusevski, whose draft rights were traded to the Thunder mere days after the 2020 NBA Draft, recently informed Milun Nesovic of the Serbian outlet Meridian Sport that he thinks there's a “realistic” chance of him returning to the NBA, saying, "I’m certainly considering a return to the NBA."
The former 17 overall pick played four full seasons in the league from 2020 through 2024, three-and-a-half of which were spent with the Thunder, with whom he averaged 7.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
Though he failed to leave a strong enough impression on the club to warrant a tenure beyond his rookie-scale deal, he did manage to flash innate ball-handling and play-making skills that generally are not seen in someone of his 7-foot stature.
While Polusevski has admitted, "I don’t think about the NBA every day," making a return is something he certainly has in mind.
Of course, as he correctly stated, before he can do that, "I need to take steps every day, not just to get to the NBA, but to reach a level where I can play good basketball with the right status."
Poku isn't the only former Thunder seemingly looking to return to NBA
Like Pokusevski, former Thunder guard Victor Oladipo also appears to be interested in making his way back onto an NBA roster.
The one-time All-Star, who spent the 2016-17 season in the Sooner State, has been quite open about his desire to continue his playing career, even going as far as to join the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League just last season. In 15 games, he posted impressive averages of 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.
This offseason, Oladipo was even spotted taking part in a workout out in Las Vegas, and openly invited executives, scouts, and other league personnel to attend so he could "showcase where I am in my game."
While the 34-year-old hasn't played a single minute of NBA action since the 2022-23 campaign, according to reports, he "impressed" many who were in attendance, and was described as being in "excellent shape."
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