With the Chet Holmgren injury and the team’s 9-2 start dominating the Oklahoma City Thunder news cycle, its G-League team, the Oklahoma City Blue kicked off its season Tuesday afternoon.
While Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell sat out after being with the Thunder for a back-to-back, the trio of Adam Flagler, Malevy Leons and Jahmi’us Ramsey showed off their skills against the Texas Legends and led OKC to a 102-100 win.
Flagler and Leons, both of whom are on deals that allow them to play with the Thunder, stood out in particular. Flagler put up 18 points and delved out five assists while also snatching away five steals. Flagler’s outside shot wasn’t falling at the clip it usually does, but his improved defense and passing ability made him a key cog on the opening-day roster for the reigning G-League champions.
“He’s a year in now,” Blue coach Kameron Woods said. “He, to some extent, has seen certain things before and done certain things before. He’s turned into one of the leaders on this group now because of his two-way, but because of that. He’s played in this team and he’s a hard-working guy.”
Flagler’s all around impact was one of the most notable aspects of the game, but the overwhelming intensity of Leons is what jumped off the floor.
Leons, an undrafted rookie out of Bradley who was signed to OKC’s main roster in October, scored 19 points and ripped down 21 rebounds, a career-high for Leons at the college or professional level.
Leons’ hustle and rebounding ability were on full display from the opening tip. Not only did he grab rebounds himself, but he did a great job of tipping the ball up to keep rebounds alive when they may have been grabbed by the Legends had he been on the bench. Leons was also tasked with guarding Texas’ primary creator at times throughout the game and he recorded two blocks.
Leons’ all-around game will be a massive boost to the Blue this season and it gives him a chance to get some sporadic minutes on the Thunder while its center rotation is on the shelf.
“It felt like I played two games today,” Leons said. “After the first quarter, I thought it was (end of) the first half already. I guess you get more possessions because we play quicker and it kind of works in my favor.”
Leons’ 21 rebounds were a big part of closing out Texas in the late stages of the game and Flagler helped in all areas as well, but it was Ramsey who became the go-to scorer in the final moments.
When Texas took a one-point lead with less than 20 seconds remaining, it was Ramsey who got the ball on the inbound and he immediately darted past a defender for a wide-open dunk to regain the lead. Ramsey’s bucket was the decider in the end and Texas was never able to retake the lead.
As it is with any G-League team, the roster and starting lineup of the Blue is fluid.
When Mitchell and Jones are with the team, it is easy to see a world in which they are starters, but the rest of the team proved that it can win without the injection of main roster talent Tuesday as it began its quest to repeat as G-League champions.
“They have a lot to work on obviously, but the most important thing for us is to try to establish that we play harder than everyone else and we’re more connected,” Woods said. “I thought they stayed together and weathered some storms and I don’t think we’d have a chance to win if we don’t do those things.”
