Who Has The Most To Prove In OKC Thunder Training Camp?

The 2022-23 NBA season is now officially less than a month away. Media Day for the Oklahoma City Thunder will take place this Monday, at which point training camp will kick off.

This will be an important period for the Thunder, as the front office and coaching staff have key roster decisions to make. The roster will need to be cut down to the 15 players that the team will enter the season with. Training camp will be the last real chance for players to showcase their talents. Whether it’s earning a starting spot, carving out a role in the rotation, landing a roster spot, or cementing a chance in the G League system, every player has something different on the line.

Regardless of what every member of camp is looking to accomplish, who has the most to prove on the Thunder roster leading up to the final decisions?

Theo Maledon

Although he took a step back last season as it relates to role and minutes played, Maledon still has upside. Oklahoma City did add more guard depth during the offseason, so the former second-round pick will really need to prove himself in camp.

It’s still unclear where exactly Maledon fits on this roster, but his ceiling is becoming more clear. If he’s going to be a piece of the Oklahoma City roster long-term, it appears he’ll be a backup point guard. Due to this, he’s a guy that could potentially be cut when it’s time to make those decisions in a few weeks.

Darius Bazley

Entering a contract season, Bazley has a ton to prove. While he likely isn’t a guy that’s going to be cut before the season, he is absolutely fighting for a spot in the starting lineup. He’s been extremely inconsistent to this point, but the high points are extremely high.

There’s not a ton of depth in the frontcourt this season for the Thunder, but Bazley still has to earn his spot in the rotation. He finished last season on a strong note, unlocking some of his defensive potential.

Vit Krejci

As it relates to players that could potentially be cut over the next few weeks, Krejci is certainly on the list. He’s the most unproven returning player on the roster, but that also makes him the most intriguing. He’s faced knee injuries over the past few years but has looked much better recently as he’s fully healthy.

What makes Krejci stand out is his height at 6-foot-7 and the versatility that comes with it. He’s a good facilitator and has proven he can knock down triples. While he’s at training camp, Krejci will have to prove he’s worth a spot on the final roster, hoping to carry over the success he had at NBA Summer League.

Aleksej Pokusevski

When Pokusevski was drafted, it was clear he was a project but the sky was the limit. Now two years into his career, it’s becoming clear that he likely has the ceiling of a highly impactful complimentary piece. It will come down to finding that perfect role and limiting the mistakes moving forward.

If Pokusevski can become a guy that can knocks down triples, plays disruptive defense, and creates mismatches with his unique frame, he could be the perfect role player for the Thunder when the time comes to make the playoffs. Defining that role and becoming a piece of the rotation starts next week in training camp, but he will need to play within himself and not try to do too much.

Ty Jerome

A former first-round pick, Jerome is in jeopardy of being cut from the roster in the next few weeks. In theory he’s a deep threat for Oklahoma City, but his 3-point shooting numbers are wildly inconsistent. He shot below 30% from deep in his first and third NBA season, but 42.3% in year two. Which is more indicative of the type of shooter Jerome is?

Outside of shooting, Jerome will need to prove he can impact winning in other ways. At training camp, the 6-foot-5 guard will need to showcase his ability to be a facilitator off the bench and play respectable defense. There’s no question he could be a valuable piece one day, but just making the roster this season could be a challenge.