Rookie review
After ‘hard road’, Christon seeks progression
The Thunder’s even-keeled Semaj Christon has some reasons to celebrate.
Russell Westbrook came barreling toward him, and Semaj Christon leapt.
It was a late afternoon in April; Westbrook had just beaten the buzzer and the Nuggets with deep 3-pointer in Denver, and he was a celebration-seeking missile. Christon nearly matched his elation — if not his elevation — on a flying chest-bump.
It was a signature moment in the Thunder’s season, and rare proof that Christon could veer off his even keel.
“I mean, I get excited sometimes,” Christon said after the season. “I don’t know. I feel like I do (get) excited, just not like everybody else.”
There was reason for Christon to celebrate his rookie season.
The Thunder’s backup point guard took “the hard road,” coach Billy Donovan said, to an NBA role. Christon played in the D-League for the Oklahoma City Blue in 2014-15, then spent a season playing in Italy before returning to OKC for training camp with the Thunder last fall.
He pulled an upset by making the team — the Thunder waived veteran Ronnie Price to open a roster spot — and found himself thrown into early action as Cameron Payne worked his way back from a foot injury.
Christon’s minutes dipped when Payne returned, then spiked after the Thunder traded Payne to the Bulls in February. In March, Oklahoma City signed veteran Norris Cole, ostensibly to be Westbrook’s backup, but Christon remained in the rotation.
“The unselfishness of Semaj and what he did, I couldn’t be any prouder of him,” Donovan said. “Because what he went through this year wasn’t easy. To keep yourself ready — especially being young, and it’s your first year in the league — he did a great job.”
But there’s a reason the Thunder explored so many options at point guard.
Christon proved a more-than-capable defender and a relatively steady hand with the ball. But he averaged 2.9 points and two assists
per game. He shot 34.5 percent from the floor, including 19 percent from 3-point range.
In a five-game, firstround playoff win against the Thunder, the Rockets outscored Oklahoma City by 21 points in the 21 minutes Christon was on the court.
“I don’t want to place so much weight on five games in the postseason that were decided by the free-throw line and the rebounding margin,” Thunder general manger Sam Presti said. “We found a way to get ourselves to 47 wins throughout the regular season, a lot of it with (Christon) there, and our coaching staff has a lot of confidence in him.”
Christon “always felt I could play” in the NBA, he said, but he’s aware he needs to improve. He wants to maintain his defensive aggressiveness and make some offseason strides offensively. The goal is to get more confident shooting open shots.
“They don’t always have to be 3s and mid-range (jumpers),” Christon said. “Just shooting shots that I can make with confidence… .”