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Oklahoma City Thunder’s Search for a Second Option

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Oklahoma City Thunder’s Search for a Second Option


Oklahoma Metropolis put its religion in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when it provided the 6-foot-6 wing a 5 yr, $172 million greenback max contract extension final summer time. Gilgeous-Alexander has been OKC’s main scorer every of his three seasons in Oklahoma, averaging a profession excessive 24.5 factors per sport in 2021-22.

With SGA set to renew his position because the Thunder’s major bucket-getter, Oklahoma Metropolis is hoping to discover a dependable second scoring choice. For the reason that Kentucky product joined the squad, Dennis Schröder, Al Horford and Lu Dort have been the crew’s runners-up in factors per sport.

Whereas Schröder and Horford spent just one season with the group, Lu Dort is anticipated to be round for the long run. Dort may set up himself because the Robin to Gilgeous-Alexander’s Batman by taking one other step ahead from what was already an improved offensive marketing campaign.

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The Arizona State alum averaged a profession excessive 17.2 factors per sport final season, up from 14 factors per sport within the 2020-21 season. Dort’s subject purpose share additionally improved from his second to 3rd yr within the league, growing from 38.7% in 2020-21 to 40.4% in 2021-22 on nearly two extra shot makes an attempt per sport.

If Dort betters his effectivity as soon as once more, the Montreal native will set up himself as a powerful second choice in OKC. Nevertheless, if the 6-foot-3 defensive stalwart can’t stay as much as expectations, the Thunder have a steady of younger gamers ready to pounce on the chance.

All 4 of Oklahoma Metropolis’s 2021 draft picks are vying for extra seems to be on the basket. Whereas Josh Giddey will deal with the ball greater than the remainder of his class, his inconsistent shot and robust passing skill may preserve the 6-foot-8 Australian’s scoring averages beneath that of his teammates.

That being stated, Giddey averaged 12.5 factors per sport as a rookie final season, adequate for third on the crew amongst gamers who appeared in no less than 10 video games. The Thunder’s second yr man displayed extra aggression and confidence attending to the rim in the summertime league, and may very well be ready to take a leap offensively.

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OKC’s second 2021 first-round choose, Tre Mann, can be poised to extend his manufacturing after showcasing flashes of offensive brilliance final season. Mann averaged 10.4 factors per sport as a rookie, greater than some other participant drafted outdoors of the 2021 lottery.

Mann’s spotlight performances all through his rookie marketing campaign are indicators of how particular the Florida product’s offensive sport may very well be. Whether or not or not it’s poster dunks, shifty dribble strikes or a easy end across the rim, Mann’s scoring potential is tantalizing to Thunder followers and coaches.

2021 second spherical picks Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins possible received’t usurp Mann or Giddey’s utilization, however may very well be key contributors on offense. At 6-foot-9, Robinson-Earl knocked down over 35% of his pictures from past the arc whereas averaging seven and a half factors as a rookie. Wiggins averaged over eight factors per sport on 46.3% from the sphere final season.

Rookie Jalen Williams’ sturdy summer time league efficiency has put the thirteenth total choose in place to earn extra minutes because the season prolongs.

The Santa Clara product nailed over half of his pictures en path to an 18 level per sport common his ultimate yr with the Broncos. Moreover, Williams showcased his accuracy from deep with a 39.6% three level share in 2022.

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The 6-foot-6 wing displayed nice basketball IQ in the summertime league, sneaking by defenders on exact cuts to the basket. Being so slippery, Williams will get loads of attractiveness across the rim. If he can convert these seems to be to factors, the Gilbert, Arizona, native may very well be Shai’s proper hand man in 2022. 


Wish to be part of the dialogue? Like SI Thunder on Fb and follow us on Twitter to remain updated on all the newest Thunder information. You can even meet the crew behind the protection.





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Oklahoma State’s Star WR Might be Most Difficult to Replace

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Oklahoma State’s Star WR Might be Most Difficult to Replace


Oklahoma State has plenty of talent to replace next season, but no one will be more difficult to replace than its star receiver.

Over the past few years, no one has embodied the OSU program better than Brennan Presley. Since he stepped on the field for the first time in 2020, he has been a symbol of consistency for the Pokes.

Although he has played significant roles on a couple of OSU teams that made the Big 12 Championship, he had no issues staying focused throughout the three-win campaign in 2024. In a season where it was easy to find the negatives in just about everything the Cowboys did, Presley remained a bright spot. Entering the season on the Biletnikoff watch list, Presley finished his final collegiate season with 90 catches for 767 yards and seven touchdowns. 

The reason Presley will be so difficult to replace is not only because of his impressive numbers each season but also because of how consistent he has been at putting those numbers up.

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His consistency led to him breaking the Cowboys’ all-time receptions record in 2024, becoming the first player to cross the 300-catch mark in an OSU uniform by ending his career with 315. 

Without Presley out there to be a reliable target next season, there will be some growing pains for whoever suits up under center. Along with always being available for a pass, Presley could be used in a variety of ways.

While it wasn’t his best ability, Presley was also occasionally used as a rusher throughout his career. He ended his OSU tenure with 30 rush attempts for 160 yards and six touchdowns, with most of his carries used as a wrinkle near the goal line.

Of course, the five-year Cowboy was well-known for his ability to return on special teams. His most notable was a kickoff return touchdown in Bedlam in 2021, and 1,667 kick and punt return yards helped him break 5,000 career all-purpose yards.

Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

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Oklahoma 8-year-old girl missing, father dead after SUV crash in Texas flood

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Oklahoma 8-year-old girl missing, father dead after SUV crash in Texas flood


An 8-year-old Oklahoma girl is still missing in Texas after floodwaters carried away the family SUV on Christmas Eve.

According to local reports in Sherman, Texas, the SUV ran off the road into a drainage ditch before succumbing to the flood. The Sherman Police Department said six people were inside the vehicle when it crashed.

Four family members were rescued. CBS News reported that the missing girl’s father, Will Robinson, did not survive. Robinson was a coach for the Durant High School Lady Lions basketball team.

By the afternoon of Christmas Day, searchers had covered seven miles of creek in the area without success.

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“We are shifting our focus into the county, targeting some possible locations where we have not looked to as yet,” the department wrote on Facebook Wednesday. “Our search will continue until dark today, then we will resume searching again (Thursday) before daylight.”



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Oklahoma 111-65 Omaha (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN

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Oklahoma 111-65 Omaha (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN


NORMAN, Okla. — — Raegan Beers matched a career high with 28 points, and No. 10 Oklahoma rolled past Omaha 111-65 on Sunday.

Beers, a 6-foot-4 center, made 11 of 13 field goals and grabbed nine rebounds to help Oklahoma win its fifth straight since an overtime loss to Duke.

Skylar Vann had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Kiersten Johnson added 12 points for the Sooners (11-1). Oklahoma scored at least 100 points for the third time this season after entering the day ranked fourth nationally with 90.7 points per game.

Ja Harvey scored 21 points and Cora Olsen added 15 for Omaha. The Mavericks (8-5) had won seven straight since a 79-77 loss to Wisconsin, but gave up a season-high point total against the Sooners.

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Oklahoma led 52-34 at halftime, with Beers producing 15 points and six rebounds.

The Sooners exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 35-25 to take an 87-59 lead. It matched the most points Oklahoma has scored in a quarter this season. The Sooners made 14 field goals and five 3-pointers in the period.

Takeaways

Omaha: Aside from Harvey, none of the Mavericks could get going. Harvey made 8 of 14 field goals while the rest of the team made 15 of 52.

Oklahoma: The Sooners continued to bully opponents in the paint and beat them with pace. They outrebounded the Mavericks 57-33 and forced 20 turnovers.

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Key moment

Oklahoma set the tone from the beginning by scoring the game’s first eight points. The Sooners led 26-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Key stat

Omaha made just 2 of 21 3-pointers while Oklahoma made 13 of 35.

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Omaha hosts North Dakota on Jan. 2. Oklahoma hosts New Mexico State on Dec. 29.

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Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball



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