NBA season is officially upon us. On Monday, the OKC Thunder hosted its media day to kick off the new campaign, and the internet was flooded with interviews, sound bites, and fandom.
Red-shirted rookie Thomas Sorber was right in the thick of things as he took questions left and right, including one regarding what fans should expect to see from him. Though his answer was exactly what Thunder faithful would want to hear, Sorber might find it challenging to live up to his promises.
"[I'm a] coach's player. Anything the coach needs me to do, I'll go out there and do it," Sorber said.
Thunder's requirements of Thomas Sorber may not be so glamorous
Sorber spent last year watching his team from the sidelines after he tore his ACL. He embraced the role, however frustrating it may have been, cheering for teammates from the sidelines and being a positive source of energy in the locker room.
Now approaching full health, he is surely eager to get back out on the court. The only problem is that he may have a tough time doing just that.
Sorber finds himself at the back end of a logjam in OKC's frontcourt. With Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Aday Mara all in line to get minutes before him, he may end up doing many of the same things he did last year.
If that ends up being the case, the Georgetown alumnus could see the DNP label next to his name all too often.
Thomas Sorber can fulfill his promise, but he doesn't have to like it
Even if he finds playing time hard to come by, the big man can still fulfill his promise.
He proved his ability to be a good teammate last year, and OKC has built a culture that denounces egos.
It's why players of all statures and skill sets seldom rock the boat. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Thomas Sorber get a disheartening amount of usage but never show his disapproval.
Sorber will likely begin the season on the outside looking in on the rotation, but that doesn't mean he can't fight for more minutes while simultaneously being a positive presence in the locker room.
It will be interesting to see how coach Mark Daigneault runs the frontcourt rotation, especially given Sorber is returning from injury.
Whether he sees consistent time, receives numerous days off, or sits out games entirely is anybody's guess, but fans will be happy to hear that Sorber is committed to doing things the Thunder way.
As long as he is developing behind the scenes, he will be working towards helping his squad win.
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