Another Thunder season has passed, and it’s time for our annual player evaluations. However, this season we are doing things a bit differently. We will rank the players based on respective categories and give a brief evaluation of each.
We’re starting with OKC’s veterans, and while they’re scarce on this team, the Thunder does have solid veterans on their roster that played significant roles this season.
There are three.
Derrick Favors: 60%
Favors averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in what I consider a very lackluster season performance by the 30-year-old. We all saw his potential in Utah, and while he has a decreased role, his impact, at least on the court, was next to nothing.
If Favors was looking for an opportunity to raise his stock for a trade, he failed. I’m not sure who would want him following this season, so we can probably expect him back next season. Hopefully, we’ll see the old Favors next year, and maybe he’ll have an increased role.
Mike Muscala: 85%
The Moose did well in limited time this season. The difference between him and Favors is that we’ve seen what he can do in a Thunder jersey. In 43 games and 13.8 minutes per game, Muscala averaged 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds on 59.7 percent shooting and 42.9 percent from 3.
Mike was the ultimate veteran this season. He did what was needed of him and seemed ready whenever his number was called, which wasn’t very often.
Mike will hopefully continue being that veteran voice for OKC.
Kenrich Williams: 95%
Williams (27) on any other team wouldn’t be considered a league vet. He’d be one of the ‘younger guys,’ but on this team, Williams serves as a veteran leader and the most hard-nosed player on the roster.
In 49 games and 21.9 minutes per game, Kenrich averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Williams seemed to be ‘the’ veteran leader this season for the Thunder and declared his loyalty to the organization, stating he’d ideally like to retire a Thunder. That’s certainly a way to gain your team’s (and fanbase’s) confidence in you.
This team isn’t veteran-heavy, as you see, but the veterans on the roster have the potential to be very impactful for this young Thunder team moving forward. Hopefully, Sam Presti and the Thunder keep them on the roster.
