Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /home/digit572/adidasblog.com/wp-content/themes/jnews/class/ContentTag.php on line 86
[ad_1]
The 2009 NBA Draft cemented Sam Presti’s legacy as an elite expertise evaluator within the NBA.
After drafting Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in back-to-back drafts, Presti pulled one other rabbit out of his hat, once more drafting a certain fireplace Corridor of Famer for Oklahoma Metropolis.
With the third general choose, Presti drafted the companies of Arizona State guard James Harden.
The 2009 Pac 10 Participant of the Yr made a direct influence in OKC off the bench, averaging 9.9 factors per sport on 40.3 % taking pictures from the sector, together with a formidable 37.5 % taking pictures from 3-point vary. Additionally including 1.8 assists per sport, Harden confirmed he was adept at operating Oklahoma Metropolis’s second unit, and flashed the potential to be a participant that would finally assist shut out video games for the Thunder.
His efficiency as a rookie proved to be just the start, and he was named to the All-Rookie Second Workforce for his efforts.
Learn extra Thunder Draft Rewind:
In his sophomore season, the franchise took a step ahead with Harden on the helm because the Thunder’s sixth man and the third member of OKC’s rising “Huge 3” alongside Durant and Westbrook.
Taking part in almost 4 extra minutes per sport, Harden improved his scoring output to 12.2 factors per sport, whereas enhancing his area purpose share to 43.6 % because the bearded star started to assault the rim extra.
Harden would turn into a bonafide star throughout his third 12 months within the NBA. Now enjoying starter minutes, Harden averaged 16.8 factors per sport, additionally including 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per sport through the 2011-12 season.
His growth right into a premier scorer within the NBA had many pondering that an NBA title in Oklahoma Metropolis was extra a matter of when and never if, as Harden was named the Sixth Man of the Yr in 2012.
Powering the Thunder previous the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs within the playoffs, Harden helped the Thunder attain their first NBA Finals towards LeBron James’ Miami Warmth.
Nonetheless, Harden struggled towards the Warmth because the Thunder misplaced the Finals in 5 video games.
Whereas Presti has been criticized for his choice to seemingly pay Serge Ibaka as an alternative of Harden, resulting in the notorious commerce with Houston, there is no such thing as a doubting simply how good of a choose Harden was within the 2009 draft.
Presti additionally chosen Ohio State large man Byron Mullens within the 2009 draft after buying and selling the twenty fifth choose and a second rounder to Dallas, however Mullens didn’t make an actual influence with the Thunder.
[ad_2]
Source link