In one of the cooler stories of the year, the Oklahoma City Thunder and former Alabama Crimson Tide PF/C Alex Reese have agreed to a deal and he will start the season on their 15-man roster.
After four years with the Crimson Tide, Reese went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. As a result, he decided to step away from basketball and spent a year bartending before returning to play overseas for the Amicale Steesel in Luxembourg. Reese was phenomenal in Europe, averaging 23.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocks a game in 33.1 minutes.
Following his stint overseas, Reese returned to the US and joined the Portland Trailblazers G-League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. In 43 games, Reese averaged 11.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.2 minutes. He spent the 2024 NBA Summer League with Portland but ultimately signed with the Thunder on Sept. 27 before being waived on Oct. 16.
However, with the Thunders’ recently acquired C Isaiah Hartenstein suffering an injury that will have him sidelined for 5-6 weeks, the Thunder re-signed Reese. A month and a half isn’t much time, but it’s a chance for Reese to prove he is NBA ready and that is all he can ask for.
Reese will always be remembered for one of the more iconic memories in Alabama basketball when he drilled a game-tying three against UCLA in the Sweet 16 in 2021.
In wake of Isaiah Hartenstein injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder are signing C/F Alex Reese to a non-guaranteed standard deal, agent Billy Davis told ESPN. Reese quit basketball in 2021 after 4 years at Alabama, was a bartender for a year, then played abroad and now has NBA deal. pic.twitter.com/8lNDRzCBcR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2024
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