With a few of Oklahoma City’s top players out for an extended period of time with injuries, the Thunder has seen multiple role players step up during this crucial stretch.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have come out of the All-Star break with some impressive wins. Despite missing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-NBA wing Jalen Williams, and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Ajay Mitchell, the team is off to a 3-0 start in the final stretch of the regular season.
To start, the Thunder defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, then defeated the new-look Cavaliers on Sunday, ending Cleveland’s seven-game win streak, and then defeated the Toronto Raptors last night in Toronto.
The silver lining amid this injury-riddled stretch is the way the Thunder’s role players have stepped up, showcasing the depth of this roster.
Obviously, the Thunder would love to be healthy throughout the season; however, this recent stretch has given its complementary players valuable primary-rep experience. Getting live-game reps in bigger roles should benefit the Thunder’s reserves when the pressure arises in the playoffs.
Thunder Role Players Gaining Experience
Let’s start with the man who’s literally been on fire as of late: Isaiah Joe. He’s been so impactful for Oklahoma City throughout the regular season, averaging career-highs in points and three-point percentage — 11 points, while shooting 42.7% from deep on six attempts per game.
Joe has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games, the longest stretch in his career, including four games of scoring 20 or more points. His perimeter shooting has been valuable, but the improvement with his quicker mechanics and as a movement shooter this year is crucial for this Thunder’s offense.
The other player who has really stepped up has been Cason Wallace, who has had an immediate impact throughout his Thunder tenure. Wallace, who has performed at an All-Defensive level this year, is ascending on offense as a result of recent injuries.
Since his 27-point performance in Denver, in which Wallace knocked down a career-high seven triples. His confidence as a creator and playmaker has risen. Scoring 23 points against Houston and recording his first career 20-point and 10-assist game against Cleveland. He would follow up by tying his career-high and recording his first back-to-back 20-point performances in his career, scoring 27 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in Toronto.
With Joe and Wallace receiving more primary live reps. Not only will the duo be more prepared to fulfill their normal roles once their top players return, but they will also be ready to excel in the postseason. The 2025 postseason was rough for Joe, as he ultimately fell out of the Thunder’s playoff rotation. Wallace had an impactful postseason on defense, but he didn’t contribute as much as he wanted offensively during the Thunder’s title run.
If the duo’s recent stretch is sustainable or if this sample size is an indication of what they can provide come playoff time, then this Thunder squad could be in a better position than the masses currently say, if this team gets healthy.
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
