The NBA offseason is in full swing, and Summer League is around the corner. The defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, have multiple young players who have a chance to shine as stars in their lineup.
Although the entire OKC Summer League roster isn’t finalized, here are some players who might catch everyone’s eyes.
Nikola Topic
The 2024 12th overall pick missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Now, Topic finally has his chance to shine. He is a 6-foot-6 point guard with remarkable passing ability and an overall great feel for the game. Since he is one of the only players on the OKC Summer League roster who will see real minutes in the regular season, he will be allowed to shine.
Topic plays at a breakneck pace, constantly driving downhill and pushing the ball up in transition. His ability to score downhill, combined with his vision, makes him a consistent offensive threat. He is also adept at causing turnovers in passing lanes and is a solid defender overall.
One major flaw of Topic is his shooting. His unwarranted form is something that he will need to constantly improve on if he wants to see significant minutes in the future.
Ajay Mitchell
The upcoming second-year guard will be looking to polish his game in Summer League. After re-signing with OKC this offseason, they want Mitchell for the long run. He was a pleasant surprise for OKC last year, carving himself a bench spot throughout the regular season and even seeing some playoff minutes.
Mitchell thrived in moving on and off the ball last season. This meant he could drive the ball, find himself open for a catch-and-shoot three, or cut to the rim for a layup.
All clips via shotcreator.com
Mitchell will be a viable combo guard for OKC in the future, and his NBA experience allows him to make the Summer League look like his playground.
Branden Carlson
Another OKC sophomore who showed some flashes last season. Carlson is a seven-footer who saw minimal minutes last season. However, once OKC clinched the best record in the NBA, he began to receive more opportunities.
Carlson’s best game came in the regular season finale, where he had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. In his time playing, he flashed being a solid stretch five with defensive upside. Although this is mainly because his level of competition in these games does not meet NBA standards, he still showed enough to be excited about watching him in Summer League.
Chris Youngblood
The former Alabama sharpshooter signed with OKC as an undrafted free agent.
Youngblood can shoot from anywhere on the court and in anyone’s face. Having good playmakers like Topic and Mitchell on the court, Youngblood will find various open looks and have a chance to prove himself as an NBA talent.
Besides his shooting, Youngblood is a very physical player who has the build to hang with most wings in Summer League.
Leave a comment