THUNDER REPORT CARD
MIKE MUSCALA
Mike Muscala played in 43 of the Thunder’s first 51 games, then sat out the rest of the season. He underwent ankle surgery in March. But Muscala was excellent before the injury. Our series of Thunder report cards continues with the nine-year big man from Bucknell.
Value: A
Let’s be honest. The Thunder suffered through a miserable season; a 24-58 record and outscored by an average of 8.1 points per game. Yet somehow, when Muscala was on the court, the Thunder outscored the opponent, by 0.5 points per 100 possessions. That’s remarkable. In games in which Muscala played, the Thunder was outscored by 9.9 points per 100 possessions while he was on the bench. That’s a difference of 10.4; Giannis Antetokounmpo territory (11.0). All while making $3.5 million.
Improvement: A
Focusing on improvement is a Thunder hallmark during this rebuild. But improvement usually centers on young players, in rookie or second seasons. Muscala keeps getting better; at age 30 in 2021-22, he had his best NBA season. Muscala had career highs in 3-point shooting (.429), points-per-36-minutes (20.9), true shooting percentage (.630) and player efficiency rating. If the Thunder becomes a playoff contender anytime soon, Muscala absolutely could be a major contributor to the cause.
Rebounding: C
Muscala, at 6-foot-10, often has been a mediocre rebounder. His rebounding rate (percentage of available rebounds while on the court) was 11.2, the lowest of all the Thunder big men. But his defensive rebounding rate was a career high 19.1, ahead of fellow big men Isaiah Roby and Olivier Sarr.
3-point shooting: A
Muscala’s .429 percentage from deep was even more astounding when you realize he made just 34.5% from the corners. His first two OKC seasons, Muscala shot .375 and .426 from the shorter-distance corners. All of which means Muscala made 44.8% of his abovethe-break 3-pointers. That’s incredible shooting, and that’s on 134 attempts. Muscala is a legitimate deep threat.
Defense: B
Muscala’s defense is better than you think, and he showed it during the 2021-22 season. His defensive rating (team points allowed per 100 possessions with a particular player on the court) was 104.9, third-best on the team among players who appeared in more than 13 games. And opponents shot just 41% when being guarded by Muscala, a solid number for a big man.