Tag: Theo Maledon

OKC Thunder player grades: Josh Giddey records third straight triple-double in 114-106 loss to Spurs

Josh Giddey records another triple double in a loss to the Spurs as the team heads into ASB

On the final game before the All-Star break, the Oklahoma City Thunder lose to the San Antonio Spurs, 114-106. Considering just how many players were missing from this game for the Thunder, it’s an encouraging result that they were able to keep this game competitive for the full four quarters.

The biggest headline from this loss centers around Josh Giddey once again. Who finished the game recording his third consecutive triple-double. Giddey joins Oscar Robertson as the only rookie in NBA history to record three straight triple-doubles. The team is completely different now than when Russell Westbrook was here, but it appears that one thing remains constant as Oklahoma City is the capital of triple-doubles with Giddey collecting four at the unofficial halfway mark of the season.

Outside of that, Tre Mann, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby all had fine games as all three scored at least 17 points. For the Spurs, it was a very evenly distributed scoring effort as six players scored at least 15 points in Keldon Johnson, Jakob Poeltl, Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV and Devin Vassell.

Overall, this was good performance for the Thunder as they head into All-Star break. Let’s take a look at player grades.

OKC Thunder player grades: Poku, Theo shine in otherwise forgettable loss to Raptors, 117-98

Thunder provide a little bit of a throwback game to last season with Poku and Theo playing major minutes.

On the eve of the NBA trade deadline, the Oklahoma City Thunder fall to the Toronto Raptors, 117-98. The Thunder’s losing streak extends to three games.

The Raptors essentially had control throughout this entire, leading by 12 points after the first quarter. The Thunder were able to make interesting and not a straight-up blowout, but the final result never really felt threatened.

Overall, the Thunder’s scoring distribution was very evenly spread as six players finished with double-digit points with no one scoring more than 18 points.

This was a solid performance for Aleksej Pokusevski and Theo Maledon — two guys who have struggled all season long. It was a nice positive sign to see the sophomore players have one of their best games of the season.

But besides that, this was a very meh game for the Thunder as bigger things are on the horizon with the trade deadline less than 24 hours away. It’ll be interesting to see what moves the team makes as they have at least one player with trade interest. Let’s take a look at player grades.

OKC Thunder news: Theo Maledon to the Thunder; Isaiah Roby to the Blue

The Thunder have recalled Theo Maledon, assigned Isaiah Roby to the Blue.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced a pair of moves on Thursday between its NBA and G League team. Theo Maledon was recalled and is now back with the Thunder while Isaiah Roby was assigned to the Oklahoma City Blue.

Maledon has averaged 17.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 14 games for the Blue. On the Thunder, Maledon has averaged 3.7 points on 28.2 percent shooting in 21 games.

Roby has averaged 13.6 points, eight rebounds and 2.7 blocks in seven games with the Blue. On the Thunder, Roby has averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18 games.

The Thunder have called guys up and down between the NBA and G League all season long as the latter gives players at the end of the bench consistent minutes and a chance to be the focal point on offense.

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OKC Thunder news: Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, Isaiah Roby to Blue; Vit Krejci to Thunder

The Thunder announced a series of moves between the NBA and G League on Sunday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced several transactions on Sunday that involve the NBA team and the G League team — the Oklahoma City Blue. Vit Krejci was recalled and is back with the Thunder. Aleksej Pokuesevski, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby all were assigned to the Blue.

Krejci has played in 13 games for the Blue, where he has averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. The 21-year-old has played a total nine minutes this season with the Thunder.

For Pokusevski, Maledon and Roby, they each have been assigned to the Blue several times this season. All three have also played a healthy amount of minutes for the Thunder this season as they try to establish themselves in a more consistent role with the team. Pokusevski has averaged 4.6 points and four rebounds in 36 games; Maledon has averaged 3.7 points in 21 games; Roby has averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18 games.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault mentioned on Saturday that with the team being in the clear in terms of a health and safety protocols outbreak, the franchise will go back to continuously calling guys up and down throughout the season.

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Thunder recall Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby from G League’s Blue

The Thunder have yo-yo’d Poku, Theo and Roby from the G League back to the Blue for today’s double header.

The Oklahoma City Thunder expectedly announced that they have recalled Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby before tonight’s game against the Pelicans. All three were assigned to the Blue on Tuesday with the expectation that they would all be recalled before the Thunder’s next game.

All three played in the Blue’s game that occurred in the afternoon. Now all three will be active for tonight’s contest.

Pokusevski finished with six points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes. Maledon finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes. Roby finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes.

It is an encouraging sign to see all three do what they’re supposed to do against G League talent and dominate. Now, it’s time to wait and see if any of them get any significant playing time against the Pelicans.

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Thunder assign Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, Isaiah Roby to G League’s Blue

The Thunder surprisingly send Poku to the Blue after playing spotty minutes all season long.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Tuesday that they have assigned Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby to their G League affiliate — the Oklahoma City Blue.

The most surprising name of the bunch is Pokusevski, who has spent the entire season with the Thunder and was viewed by fans as one of the team’s top developmental priorities heading into the season. But so far, Pokusevski has looked like the same player as last season where there is a lot of bad play covered by a few glimmers of his potential.

This should not be surprising for fans though. Many knew the 19-year-old would be a long-term project that would take several seasons to develop if he were ever to hit his ceiling. Expecting Pokusevski to take a big jump one calendar year into his NBA career is unrealistic.

With that said, Pokusevski’s sophomore struggles should not be shrugged off. In 26 games this season, Pokusevski has averaged 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 33.8 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from three. Maybe a trip to the Blue will help him refocus and sharpen his skills like it did last season in the G League Bubble — where his play was substantially more polished after the Bubble compared to before.

Pokusevski’s stay with the Blue — along with Maledon and Roby — is expected to be a short one as Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said today that all three will play for the Blue during Wednesday’s 12 p.m. CT game and be active for the Thunder’s 7 p.m. CT game later that day.

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Thunder assign Deck, Maledon, Roby to the G League’s Blue

The Oklahoma City Thunder have once again sent several guys down to the Blue to get practice and game time as the focal point of the offenses with Gabriel Deck, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Saturday morning that they have assigned Gabriel Deck, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Roby to their G League affiliate — the Oklahoma City Blue.

Deck has averaged 2.2 points in seven games this season. Maledon has averaged 2.8 points in 12 games this season. And Roby has averaged 6.4 points in 13 games this season.

This news should not be surprising. These three have been part of a group of players — including Vit Krejci — who have continuously been called up and down between the Thunder and Blue all season long.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has said multiple times this season that the franchise will use the Blue liberally, especially since they share the same home arena now, to give guys regular playing time that they would not receive with the Thunder.

Maledon and Roby make sense; both are young players who are just buried in the depth chart. So it is better to give them some run in the G League and help them gain confidence than let them rot on the bench. The Deck situation is a fascinating one as the 26-year-old has not really played this season and is a bit too long in the tooth to be prioritized by the franchise to give developmental minutes. It feels like an odd marriage between the Thunder and Deck that grows more mysterious each Blue assignment he gets.

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OKC Thunder news: Theo Maledon recalled from the Blue

Thunder guard Theo Maledon has been recalled from the G League’s Oklahoma City Blue and is back with the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to their game against the Detroit Pistons

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Monday morning that the team has recalled guard Theo Maledon from the team’s G League affiliate — the Oklahoma City Blue.

Calling players up and down between the Thunder and Blue has been a common practice for the franchise all season long. It gives guys who normally don’t see consistent NBA minutes a chance to play heavy G League minutes and be the focal point on offense. In Maledon’s case, this ends his fourth assignment of the season with the Blue.

Maledon, who led the team in total minutes played last season, has struggled to stay on the court. The 20-year-old has appeared in just 12 games and has played just 13 minutes a night. In those games, Maledon is averaging just 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting a horrendous 22.5 percent from the field and 11.5 percent from three.

In seven starts with the Blue, Maledon has averaged 13.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists a game.

The Thunder play against the Detroit Pistons Monday night, so expect Maledon to be activated for the game.

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OKC Thunder recall Theo Maledon from G League team

Second-year guard Theo Maledon was recalled to the OKC Thunder after playing on the G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.

The Oklahoma City Thunder recalled second-year guard Theo Maledon from their G League affiliate, the organization announced on Tuesday.

Maledon had originally been sent to the OKC Blue on Nov. 11. In his five total games with the Blue, he averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33.7 minutes per game.

While those numbers are good, he has struggled at the NBA level this season. Through nine games, he is averaging 2.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.2 minutes of play. He is shooting just 20.6% from the field and 13.6% from 3.

It’s a step down from his rookie season, when he played the most minutes on the Thunder and filled in well for George Hill after the veteran guard got injured and eventually traded.

Maledon can help fill in for another guard now if so needed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game on Monday due to a right ankle sprain, so Maledon can be insurance if SGA does have to miss more time or feels pain in the ankle.

The Thunder’s next game will be on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time.

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Theo Maledon among three Thunder players assigned to G League

Theo Maledon will get his first G League minutes for the OKC Blue.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Thursday that three players had been assigned to the G League.

Theo Maledon, Isaiah Roby and Vit Krejci joined the OKC Blue. Roby and Krejci are making a return, while Maledon had not appeared with the G League affiliate in his year-plus with the Thunder.

If last year was a normal season, Maledon likely would have spent some time with the Blue, but because the only G League games were played while Maledon served as the Thunder’s primary backup point guard, the young guard was a necessity for the Thunder.

Now, he is set to start his first stint in the development league.

Maledon has struggled in his second NBA season, shooting 20.6% from the floor and 13.6% from 3. He is averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 assists in 14.2 minutes per game.

Roby, also a fixture of last year’s Thunder team, has played one game for the Blue so far this season. He recorded a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double in that appearance. With the Thunder, he is averaging 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game over five appearances and shooting 45.5% from the field.

Krejci has played in three Thunder games, albeit one appearance was for about five seconds of game time. He has scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in his nine total minutes of court time.

In two Blue games, he has averaged 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals over 24 minutes per contest.

The Thunder have assigned players to the Blue and then recalled them in a matter of days multiple times this season. It is likely the three will return to the Thunder soon.

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