NBA News: Sixers Sign Former Thunder First-Round Pick

After not catching on with a team this summer, former OKC Thunder first-round pick Darius Bazley is back in the NBA after dominating the NBA G League.

In the 2019 NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder traded up in the first round to grab Darius Bazley just days before the franchise shifted into their rebuild. Bazley was a New Balance Intern who fell under the radar for most people tuning into the draft, and very few had a legitimate first-round grade.

However, it was easy to see the appeal of the 6-foot-9 swingman with guard-like handles, upside as a playmaker, and the ability to glide to the rim.

In his rookie season, the Thunder went on a surprise run, making it to the first round of the NBA Playoffs, before being ousted in seven games by the Houston Rockets. Bazley played a positive role in his freshman campaign.

Things never stabilized for Bazley with the Thunder; from coaching and roster turnover to different roles and not fitting into the new system, it was time for a change.

Sam Presti dealt Bazley to the Suns for Dario Saric, who improved the team down the stretch of last season. There, the New Balance Intern logged just seven games and was not asked back in the offseason as he sat as a free agent before getting a G League opportunity with the Delaware Blue Coats.

In the G League, Bazley was unstoppable, averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 assists, 9.7 rebounds, and a jaw-dropping 3.8 stocks per game. This earned him a spot at All-Star Weekend at the G League Next Up event.

Following the weekend, where he sat courtside with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC crew during the Saturday night events, the Blue Coats parent club, the Philadelphia 76ers, have inked the former first-round pick to a ten-day contract. His first game as a member of the 76ers will be on Thursday, Feb. 22, against the New York Knicks.

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