Pokusevski gets big G League assist
Demotion helps rookie 7-footer develop game
Aleksej Pokusevski was admittedly and understandably lost.
The Thunder rookie made his NBA debut on his 19th birthday. Pokusevski was the youngest player in the NBA, and his international experience in Greece was limited to 21 games over three seasons.
No summer league and a shortened training camp didn't ease his move to the association.
“It was pretty rough just getting used to the rhythm — sleeping in airplanes, sleeping in hotels,” Pokusevski said. “Just getting your body ready to play the next game is something I've learned this year.”
Pokusevski, drafted 17th overall, shot 0-of-6 in his first game, 0-of-2 in his second game and 1-of-8 in his third game.
The skilled 7-footer from Serbia was sent to the G League bubble in February after logging 17 NBA games in which he shot 25% from the floor and 18% from 3point range with more turnovers than assists. He attempted zero free throws in 296 minutes of action.
“The first 10-15 games I was just shooting the ball, wasn’t even reading the defense,” Pokusevski said. “The game slowed down after the G League for me. I started reading the game.”
Pokusevski, next up in our Thunder development series, said his G League assignment was the best thing to happen to him this season.
“Coach grabbed me with Sam Presti,” said Pokusevski, remembering when he found out that he was being sent down. “Somehow I, not knew, but I was waiting for something like that because I needed to take a breath. I was happy about it because I knew it was gonna help me for sure.”
Pokusevski became a sensation — both for his highlights and bloopers — in the G League bubble, but his numbers didn’t show significant improvement. As much as anything, his one-month stay in the bubble served as a reset.
“Just traveling every day to another city, another hotel, playing in a different arena for the first time. Everything was new,” Pokusevski said. “Not just basketball, everything was new. I was trying to take it easy. That’s why the G League helped me I think.”
Pokusevski has been far from efficient in 25 games since returning from the bubble, but his offensive feel has steadily improved.
His field-goal percentage has jumped from 25% to 36%. His 3-point percentage from 18% to 29%. He has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio in the second half of the season, and his playing time has increased from 17 minutes to 28 minutes per game.
“Now it’s catch the ball, if you’re open shoot, but don’t rush it,” Pokusevski said. “I’m a 7-footer, so I don’t have pressure to shoot it fast.”
After not once getting to the line in his first 17 games, Pokusevski has attempted 36 free throws in his last 25 games. He’s shooting 78% from the foul line.
“That’s something that they showed me,” Pokusevski said. “My aggression has gotten better. Knowing that I can get into the paint, get to the rim and get a foul or find an open man.”
Pokusevski is averaging 2.8 assists per game since returning from the bubble, and his vision and creative flair as a 7-foot playmaker has made him a must-watch prospect.
“I’m proud that I stayed with it,” Pokusevski said. “I didn’t give up. I knew it was gonna be good, I just had to keep my head down and work on it. Every practice, every game, every day was trying to learn something new.”
Thunder at Kings
When: 9 p.m. Tuesday Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma (Cox 37/ HD 722, DirecTV 675, U-verse 751/ 1751) Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM
Three things to know
• This is the Thunder’s final road game of the season. OKC is 12-23 on the road and 9-25 at home.
• The Kings can sweep the season series after beating the Thunder 12698 on Sunday. OKC’s 28-point loss was its largest in history against the Kings.
• Aleksej Pokusevski leads the Thunder with 41 blocks. He’s tied for third among all rookies in blocks. Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart (86) and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels (55) rank first and second.