‘Rookie’ Vasilije Micic Provides Veteran-Style Leadership to Youthful Roster

Despite being new to the NBA, Vasilije Micic is a basketball veteran that will help the young Thunder roster.

Oklahoma City is a young team and even though their core continues to gain experience, the youth remains evident.

However, one of the signings the Thunder have completed outside of the draft may have provided great leadership despite the player technically being a rookie in the NBA. Vasilije Micic, after a long wait, has officially signed an NBA contract with OKC.

Micic comes to the NBA at 29-years-old and with a EuroLeague MVP to his name. He is a well accomplished player in Europe with the accolades to back it up. He’s been around the game and playing at a high level despite not seeing any minutes in the NBA.

While Micic will likely provide an immediate impact for OKC on the court as a backup guard, his biggest help could come off the court. While Micic is by rule considered a rookie to the league he is the third oldest player on the Thunder roster. Only Davis Bertans (30) and Victor Oladipo (31) are older.

Micic’s experience playing at the highest levels in European basketball will be a huge addition to the OKC locker room. He’ll help Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the other guards continue to develop as they get older with the skills he was able to fine tune overseas.

Outside of just bringing experience and knowledge to the roster he can also help the younger players to hone in their skills as well. Micic’s offense is lethal as he can attack from all levels, finishing at different spots on the floor and being able to find his teammates. His experience as a floor manager will be huge for OKC off the bench.

Leadership and a veteran presence is something the Thunder roster could use, and while Micic isn’t an NBA veteran, he is a basketball veteran and his knowledge of the game is priceless to a young core like Oklahoma City's. 

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