20.7 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists on average this season for Théo Maledon with OKC, which therefore confirms his very good rookie year with the Thunder. Oops, almost. As you will have understood, these stats are rather his stats in the G League, at the heart of a season during which the former Villeurbannais is struggling to find his place in the NBA roster of the Oklahoma franchise.
But let’s cross our fingers and everything we can cross, little Theo may soon have his chance again, and this for two main reasons. 1) the Thunder will probably soon enter its annual spring tanking mode, and Mark Daigneault may deign to open up his roster for good in large widths, and 2) the Frenchman’s latest performances in the G League are very encouraging.
- Oklahoma City Blue vs Texas: 10 points at 3/8 in shooting including 0/3 from the parking lot and 4/5 in throws, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 26 minutes
- Oklahoma City Blue vs Texas: 26 points at 6/9 in shooting including 1/2 from the parking lot and 13/14 in throws, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 against in 25 minutes
- Oklahoma City Blue vs Texas: 26 points at 10/15 in shooting including 3/8 from the parking lot and 3/4 in throws, 1 rebound and 5 assists and 32 minutes
- Oklahoma City Blue vs Santa Cruz: 25 points at 9/13 in shooting including 2/4 from the parking lot and 5/7 in throws, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in 35 minutes
A big week for Tété, punctuated by three huge games and, by the way, an incredible shot on Thursday evening to snatch extra time, and confirmation if we needed it that the Frenchie is slightly too strong at this level.
MADNESS! THEO MALEDON AT THE BUZZER TO FORCE OT! ???? @okcblue pic.twitter.com/hDpxjJirU6
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 22, 2022
A sheathed, skilful and intelligent playmaker who is having a blast in the G League in the midst of no-names, nothing new, and we therefore especially ask ourselves the question of the aftermath for Théo, capable of shooting more than 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 average assists during his rookie season but undermined this year by tough competition in his position in the nursery of the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is obviously unmovable because without him the Thunder would be in the Bolivian fourth division, Luguentz Dort holds the barracks, Josh Giddey represents the future, and in relay of these three there the rookie Jeremiah Robinson-Earl remains the nice surprise of the rookie season. At Theo’s post? It’s the kids Aaron Wiggins see Tre Mann who often prove themselves, the routourne turns as Frank Ribéry and Zaho said but it never stops turning and Théo will have his chance again, tomorrow, next week or in a month, and that’s when you have to get dirty again in the face of another kind of adversity.
He has done it before, he can do it again, he will do it again. Theo Maledon’s week in the G League proves that the kid has his hands full, would it have been useful to specify it, and we are now waiting for THE performance that will make the difference, it will probably not take more, THE performance that will will relaunch Théo in Mark Daigneault’s group. The slope is sometimes winding, but don’t we say “all roads lead to the Paycom Center”? Almost.
