NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year
player. 149. . PF. Oklahoma City Thunder. Aleksej Pokusevski. 17
NBA Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year: 17. Aleksej Pokusevski
Stats:
- 8.2 points
- 34.1 percent from the field
- 28 percent from three point land
Aleksej Pokusevski is probably the most intriguing first-round draft pick.
Standing at 7 feet tall, technically, his position is listed as center. Yet, when you watch him play, he’s more of a shooting guard.
Pokusevski handles the ball extremely well for a man his size. On several occasions, the Oklahoma City Thunder would hand him the rock at the top of the key and watch him make something out of nothing. Crossover dribbles, behind-the-back passes, reverse layups, you name it and Pokusevski most likely has it in his arsenal.
But for as versatile as he is on the perimeter, Pokusevski looks as though he can be knocked over with a strong wind. There’s no doubt that his 190-pound frame will need a bit of extra muscle but in terms of talent, it’s all there.
The biggest problem for Pokusevski at the moment is staying consistent. He has ability but he’s yet to put it all together. His 8.2 points per game on the year were solid but his 34.1 percent from the field and 28 percent from behind the arc were horrendous. Once he got past a few of his injury issues and played more, he flashed huge potential. While the season as a whole was completely a mess, fans of the Thunder can take solace in Pokusevski’s 29 point, eight-rebound outing in the final game which included six made three’s. The future is extremely bright for him.
Grade: B