Tag: G League Bubble

7-foot rookie Aleksej Pokusevski has made some jaw-dropping plays in the G League

Poku dazzled with some passing so unfathomable that it is hard to put into words without sounding a bit mythical.

Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick Aleksej Pokusevski was widely considered one of the most unusual players selected in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Pokusevski, who did not turn 19 years old until Dec. 26., is a skilled 7-footer  originally from Serbia. He is a long-term developmental piece for Oklahoma City, and if he adds some muscle to his wiry frame, he has the potential to be far more than just a project.

He was slow out of the gates during his first stint in the NBA, averaging just 3.2 points per game while merely shooting 17.9% from beyond the arc. Then since joining the Thunder’s minor league affiliate in the G League bubble, he has struggled with his consistency and his efficiency.

There are flashes, however, where it becomes incredibly obvious why scouts were so excited about his ceiling and why Oklahoma City had to trade up to select him.

During his game on Feb. 22 against the Iowa Wolves, he dazzled with some passing so unfathomable that it is hard to put into words without sounding a bit mythical.

First, he uses his long stride to save an errant weak-side pass from coming out of bounds. The big man is able to use his 7-foot-3 wingspan to catch the rock before it becomes a turnover.

Then, he is able to feature enough court awareness to keep the possession alive. His hand-eye coordination, agility and touch save the pass where he is somehow able to turn a mistake into an assist within less than two seconds.

It is not very often you see that kind of fluidity or daringness from a 7-footer. The audacity to try this kind of play is worth applause in and of itself but for it to be completed is worth a standing ovation.

Later in the game, he has a massive height differential when he is met with a mismatched defender. With the ball at the top of the perimeter, he fakes to drive right and dribbles behind his back to attack left.

Then while in motion, having already switched hands on the possession, he goes behind his back yet again. The remarkable ambidexterity helps him to find Moses Brown for an uncontested dunk.

Due to his playmaking and willingness to shoot, Pokusevski can eventually play alongside a traditional big like Brown, who is 7-foot-2. If you have a 7-footer like Pokusevski (who is able to put the ball on the floor) on the court at the same time as your center, your team will almost always have a significant size advantage.

All things considered, there have been several from his G League season in which he has showcased exactly why the wait for his development could be so worth it. Just watch his handle as the ball handler in transition, which led to this absurd finger roll.

Pokusevski was a fascinating prospect when he played Olympiacos, though most of his minutes were for lower-division competition in Greece. He had promising 3-and-D potential in the frontcourt, averaging 2.8 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers per 36 minutes in 2019-20.

He was especially dominant while protecting the rim competing in the U18 European Championships in 2019, however, recording the best overall block percentage (14.2 percent) among all participants.

But you can see why his most intriguing talent has long been his ability as a playmaker. Pokusevski averaged 5.6 assists per 36 during the tournament, an excellent rate for someone his size. Plus, the concept of a dazzling dime isn’t foreign to him.

Anyone who is able to complete a pass like the one Pokusevski showed above is going to get noticed, no matter what level of competition he was playing against.

As his career progresses, it is going to be worth keeping a serious eye on what he has in store for us. So far, the future looks bright for both him and the Thunder.

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