The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are waiving ahead Aleksej Pokusevski, per sources. Pokusevski, 22, was chosen seventeenth general by the Minnesota Timberwolves within the 2020 NBA Draft.
After all, the 7-footer was traded to the Thunder a day later. The Serbian native started his skilled taking part in profession abroad with Olympiacos of the EuroLeague.
In an 89-69 win over the German membership Bayern Munich within the 2018-19 season, he recorded one level, two rebounds, and one help in a single minute performed. His impression was seen instantly.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are waiving Aleksej Pokusevski, sources inform @TheAthletic @Stadium. Pokusevski was the Thunder’s No. 17 decide within the 2020 NBA Draft and performed 150 video games throughout nearly 4 years. pic.twitter.com/1m8d86W10C
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2024
At 17 years and 83 days previous, Pokusevski turned the youngest senior males’s Olympiacos participant to ever debut within the EuroLeague, passing Georgios Printezis (17 years, 229 days).
Forward of the 2019-20 season, Pokusevski was assigned to play within the Greek A2 League with Olympiacos’ reserve group, Olympiacos B. He additionally performed for the senior EuroLeague membership’s observe squad. Pokusevski missed nearly three months due to a knee damage.
Pokusevski began in eight of his 11 appearances within the Greek A2 League. He averaged 10.8 factors, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 23.1 minutes per recreation.
At 18 years and 328 days previous, he turned one of many youngest gamers drafted in NBA historical past. Andrew Bynum (17 years, 249 days) is the youngest, adopted by Jermaine O’Neal (17 years, 261 days), Kobe Bryant (17 years, 312 days), Darko Milicic (18 years, 1 day), and different gamers.
Aleksej Pokusevski posted career-high numbers with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in his rookie season
Moreover, Pokusevski made his first NBA profession begin on March 11, 2021, when Oklahoma Metropolis received 116-108 towards the Dallas Mavericks. He recorded 14 factors, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 29 minutes of motion.
Three days later, in Oklahoma Metropolis’s 128-122 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, he notched his first profession double-double. The ahead amassed 23 factors, 5 made 3-pointers, and a career-high 10 rebounds. He turned the third Thunder rookie to submit a 20-10 double-double, becoming a member of Russell Westbrook and Darius Bazley.
At 19 years and 78 days previous, he additionally turned the youngest participant in franchise historical past to attain 20-plus factors. To not point out, he set the file for being the youngest participant in league historical past with not less than 20 factors, 10 rebounds, and 5 3-pointers made in a recreation.
The Thunder are reportedly waiving 2020 first-round decide Aleksej Pokusevski.
Since coming into the league in 2020, Poku has produced the fewest win shares amongst gamers with not less than 100 video games performed.#NBA | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/aWFTWfoiZN
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) February 23, 2024
Moreover, Pokusevski turned the second-youngest participant in NBA historical past to make 5 3-pointers in a recreation behind solely LeBron James in 2004.
On April 3, 2022, Pokusevski recorded his first NBA triple-double with 17 factors, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 117-96 win over the Phoenix Suns. He turned the seventh Thunder participant to register a triple-double.
Furthermore, Pokusevski’s play has steadily declined since his rookie season. He averaged profession highs of 8.2 factors, 2.2 assists, and 24.2 minutes per recreation in his first 12 months.
In 10 video games off the bench with the Thunder this season, he averaged profession lows of 1.2 factors, 1.0 rebound, and 6.0 minutes. Plus, he shot profession lows of 25% from the ground and 18.2% on the foul line.
His function throughout the franchise had diminished for the reason that emergence of Chet Holmgren.
