Thunder youngster 'connecting dots,' could be in running for major award

When one thinks of the OKC Thunder, names like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are generally the ones that initially come to mind. Considering they are the core trio that recently guided the club to a historic, top-seeded finish last season and are recognized as stars both in the super and budding sense, this should be far from a surprise.

However, Oklahoma City is far more than just three players, as one could even argue that they have the deepest roster in the entire association.

Boasting an impressive assortment of both established veterans and promising young bucks, coach Mark Daigneault has quite an enviable talent pool at his disposal, and there's one player residing in the latter camp who has been drawing in some serious attention.

Since being selected in the first round of this past June's NBA Draft, Dillon Jones has turned heads with his play through both training camp and preseason action.

In particular, his positional versatility has made him a rather intriguing secret weapon within the Thunder's scheme, and, because of this, it appears he's already starting to generate some buzz as being a possible threat to take home the illustrious Rookie of the Year award heading into 2024-25.

Thunder forward Dillon Jones included in preseason ROY chatter

Though guys like Zach Edey, Reed Shepard, and Zaccharie Risacher may be atop the list when it comes to the odds-makers, in a piece recently penned by Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley it was discussed how the 2024 NBA Draft class is quite strong, and that the Rookie of the Year race is "crowded with quality candidates."

Of said candidates, Buckley specifically went about and name-dropped Dillon Jones, who he described as someone who's been "connecting dots in Oklahoma City" during the preseason.

Though almost everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to this stage of the season, it's undeniable that the former Weber State standout has made his presence felt early and often into his young tenure with the Thunder.

In five games played, Jones managed to post solid all-around averages of 11.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and over half a block on 47.8 percent shooting from the floor and 47.8 percent shooting from deep.

While he may measure in with a natural wing's build at 6-foot-5, thanks to his strength, ball-handling skills, rebounding abilities, and overall basketball IQ Jones has admitted that coach Daigneault has used him virtually everywhere on the hardwood and within the rotation, saying that he's been slotted in anywhere from a ball-handling guard to a primary center.

His all-around play is the kind of style that could not only nudge him toward some serious minutes during his debut campaign but, also, into a position where he's actually in the conversation for the league's Rookie of the Year.

At least, that's what the folks at Bleacher Report seem to see as a surprise turn of events "that could happen" this year, and Thunder fans should be excited about the simple idea of such a turnout for the youngster.