How Olivier-Maxence Prosper Fits with the OKC Thunder
With the Oklahoma City Thunder entering the offseason, it’s officially time to time to switch gears to prospect evaluation mode.
And this year’s impending draft has plenty of players that can help bolster the OKC core.
No matter how unlikely it is Oklahoma City lands certain prospects, the Thunder Fit series will take a look at how they would fit with the current team’s configuration. And with a war chest of assets, you never know how far the front office could move up to acquire a player.
The next prospect up in the series is Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who shot up draft boards following strong performances in the 2023 NBA Draft Combine exhibition games.
Here’s how Prosper could fit alongside the rest of the Thunder core:
Offense
At 6-foot-8, Prosper has immense length mixed with a fluid skillset and tighter handle than most his size. At Marquette last season, he averaged 12.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and just shy of one steal per game, using his unique combination of skills to his advantage.
He shot 51 percent overall and 34 percent from beyond the arc on 3.2 attempts.
With the Thunder, Prosper would add another big body to create even more mismatch advantages for the team, which already has plus-size at nearly every position.
He might not add much in the ways of spot-up shooting, at least early on, but Prosper could attack the rim in a variety of ways and provide some floor-spacing here and there. And his shooting is a work in progress that has more than meets the eye numbers-wise.
In order to really fit into the OKC squad, he’ll have to hone decision making and passing/playmaking skills, but the vision for what he could be in the Thunder offense is there.
Defense
Defensively is where Prosper is going to make the most of his talents. He’s impressively versatile, using his length to fan out and smother opposing forwards. But with slightly more wiggle than your average 6-foot-8 forward, he’s able to size up and down, too.
He won’t add much in the ways of rim protection, be it traditional or secondary, but he’ll be able to chase players through screens, clog passing lanes and provide a general nuisance for a team who already has a soon-to-be elite rim protector.
Prosper’s fit on the OKC defense, alongside guys like Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, is a seamless one.
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