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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder got some appreciation from a national media member.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor released his award list Thursday and has Schroder as the Sixth Man of the Year.
O’Connor referenced Schroder’s performance in crunch time and improved defense as well as the typical offensive traits that come up with his name.
Schroder was central to the devastating three-guard lineup that Oklahoma City used to close games and steal wins. He had the best defensive season of his career; for the first time, he looked like the hard-nosed, versatile guard that many scouts expected him to be when he was a draft prospect. He initiated actions in the pick-and-roll, hit spot-up 3s, and helped keep the team afloat when Thunder head coach Billy Donovan had to sit one of the other guards.
Schroder averaged 19 points off the bench and shot 46.8% from the field and 38.1% from 3, both of which are the best in his career.
That three-guard lineup is the statistically the best three-man group in the league and part of the five-man lineup that is the best crunch-time team in the NBA.
Another part of that trio was recognized on O’Connor’s ballot.
Point guard Chris Paul was voted onto his All-NBA Second Team. O’Connor said “it didn’t take much thought” to put him on that spot.
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Paul is looking like a foregone conclusion to make either the second or third team. This would be his first appearance since 2016, when he was a member of the All-NBA Second Team while on the Los Angeles Clippers.
If he makes it, it would be his ninth All-NBA appearance.
Donovan also found himself on O’Connor’s ballot.
While Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has been the No. 1 spot on many ballots that have been released, including O’Connor’s, Donovan was No. 2.
The Ringer writer credited Donovan with revamping the system, instituting an offense that had more passing and developing younger players.
Billy Donovan overhauled Oklahoma City’s system following the departure of Russell Westbrook, and the team has gone from last in the league in passes per game to the middle of the pack. It’s still not exactly what Donovan envisioned when he got hired—at Florida, he ran a motion offense with constant ball and player movement. But what he’s done has worked to keep the Thunder in the postseason. He gets bonus points for developing some of the younger guys on the squad by giving them minutes.
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