OKC Thunder Rookie Trio Showed Out in NBA Preseason
By now, most of the basketball world knows about former No. 2 overall Chet Holmgren. And even defensive stalwart and Kentucky standout Cason Wallace.
But Vasilije Micic — a 29-year-old draft-and-stash from 2014 who’s a two-time champion and former MVP in the EuroLeague — may surprise some people.
Regardless of how they got there, Oklahoma City’s newest trio of newbies all showed out in quasi-NBA action.
Holmgren was the team’s crown jewel, not just of preseason but since they took him No. 2 in the 2022 NBA Draft.
A 7-footer with immense feel the for game and impeccable defensive instincts, Holmgren plugs into OKC’s system seamlessly, and that’s exactly what he did in four games in preseason.
In just 19.3 minutes per contest, Holmgren poured on 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.0 blocks per game, serving as a catalyst for the team’s success early and often.
Micic has a similarly easy fit, but in a much different way.
The 6-foot-5 guard struggled to score due to the jump in athleticism, and even pace, of the NBA. But his passing translated immediately, as he averaged 6.0 assists in four games at just 18.8 minutes per game.
Wallace suffered a minor injury in one of his first games, but was able to return in the final one, scoring 13 points, grabbing three boards, dishing two assists and nabbing a patented three steals.
With the NBA regular season starting in just a few short days, look for all three of the Thunder’s shiny new rookies to begin peppering lists everywhere.
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