This year is important for Darius Bazley to secure a spot as a starter for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the future.
The Thunder like a lot about him. During 16 games from April 14 to May 11, Bazley averaged 18.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He took some primary ballhandling duties and even developed a driving spin move that often got him right to the rim but didn’t always get the ball in the bucket.
But question marks remain. The Thunder need to figure out whether Bazley can be relied upon as a stretch-5 or whether his playmaking and versatility would be better off as a role player coming off the bench.
He’s barely 21, but with so many draft picks at OKC’s disposal, it shouldn’t hesitate to select a power forward or center if the Thunder don’t have certainty that Bazley is their starter of the future.
Here are three things he can do to prove he is or at least is on the right track.