Former Sooner to Play Summer League With OKC Thunder
Former Oklahoma Sooners' center Tanner Groves has signed with Oklahoma City. Groves' trainer, Reid Ouse, announced the news via Twitter the day after the draft.
Groves deal will allow him the opportunity to play with OKC in the Summer League, giving the Spokane native a shot to impress coaches and potentially earn a roster spot in the G League.
Last season at OU, Groves averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. In his first season with the Sooners, Groves averaged 11.6 points per game and shot over 38% from beyond the arc.
Prior to his time in Norman, the 6-foot-9 big man spent three seasons at Eastern Washington. In his final year with the Eagles, Groves averaged 17.2 points, eight rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
The former Eastern Washington standout made national headlines in the 2021 NCAA Tournament after he and his brother, Jacob, torched the Kansas Jayhawks for a combined 58 points.
With the signing of Groves, Hunter Maldonado, Caleb McConnell, Justice Sueing and Adam Flagler as undrafted free agents, in addition to drafting Cason Wallace and Keyontae Johnson, the Thunder's Summer League team should be very formidable. General Manager Sam Presti also mentioned that he hopes former No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren is able to suit up for OKC this summer.
"It's our hope that (Holmgren) will be out there. Our expectation," Presti said in his media availability a few days after the draft. "Chet's doing great. He's had a great offseason... He looks really good, so we’re excited for him, but I don’t think anybody could be more excited [to play in Summer League] than he is."
With Holmgren alongside the impressive crop of talent that the Thunder have brought in since Thursday, Oklahoma City is slated to be a tough opponent at the NBA Summer League next month.
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