A big reason the Oklahoma City Thunder are good is because of how stable and consistent their core has been this season.
And as the NBA prepares for its Orlando restart, the Thunder’s four best players are being recognized for their talents. ESPN released its top 50 players for the Orlando bubble, and Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schroder are all on it.
Paul ranks the highest out of the group at No. 15, and Gilgeous-Alexander comes in at 35. Gallinari is slotted at 40, and Schroder is at No. 50.
The Celtics have the most players of any franchise on the list, with Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker all there. But the Thunder are among four teams that have four players on the list, with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks being the other three.
Paul’s resurgence after his down year last season with the Rockets has been a significant factor in Oklahoma City’s success. Paul, 35, has scored 17.7 points per game this season, and he has dished 6.8 assists a game. He’s also shot 48.9% from the field and 36.2% from the 3-point line.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a budding downhill scorer, as he uses his ability to weave through defenses for easy buckets. A second-year player, he has scored a career-high 19.3 points a game and grabbed a career-best 6.1 rebounds per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied his career-high 32 points tonight. His game’s so smooth. 🤧 (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/bD7rJ3HDsu
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 23, 2019
Gallinari and Schroder have both been good complementary players in the offense. Gallinari has shot 40.9% from the 3-point line, and Schroder is scoring 19.0 points a game on a career-best 46.8% shooting.
All those efficient buckets have produced one of the steadiest offenses in the league. The Thunder rank fifth in field goal percentage (47.3%). Gallinari is the only one of the four shooting below 45% from the floor this season.
Currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference, the Thunder have spoiler potential. They will play their first seeding game Aug. 1 against the Utah Jazz.
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