Why OKC Thunder Rookies Should Earn Plenty of Minutes in 2023-24

After five preseason games and a long offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder appear poised to have another solid year.

With exciting young players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey all returning for another season in the Modern Frontier, OKC should have plenty of firepower moving forward.

In addition to the three aforementioned players, who all earned their share of media praise over the summer, the Thunder have three talented rookies who will likely make an impact early in their careers. Two of these rookies — Vasilije Micic and Chet Holmgren — are more unconventional first-year players, as Micic was drafted in 2014 and Holmgren in 2022.

Still, Holmgren, Micic and No. 10 overall pick Cason Wallace should be heavily featured in Oklahoma City's rotation. All three players provide a slightly different skill set, but fit well in head coach Mark Daigneault's system.

After a slow start to the preseason, Micic showcased his impressive passing ability in the team's final three games. With the 29-year-old rookie's ability to be a connector, he should slide seamlessly into OKC's offense.

With players like Williams, Giddey, Aaron Wiggins and a handful of others who are great on backdoor cuts to the basket, Micic should be able to rack up a decent number of assists early in his NBA career.

Micić serving these on a platter 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/eSNniB84Nn
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 20, 2023

Micic has an impressive resumé coming into his first year in the NBA, as the Serbian playmaker is a two-time EuroLeague Finals MVP.

Wallace, who finished the Thunder's final preseason game with 13 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists while shooting 6-of-9 from the field, gives Oklahoma City another stellar defender off the bench who can move the ball as a passer and is a good scorer.

Despite being just 19-years-old, Wallace's impressive defensive ability and offensive upside should grant him plenty of opportunities to get on the court as a rookie.

Holmgren, a former 5-star recruit and No. 2 overall pick, should make the biggest impact on OKC's ability to compete for the playoffs this year. After spending what should have been his rookie season sidelined with a foot injury, Holmgren has returned with a vengeance, exceeding expectations in the Summer League and preseason action.

Defensively, Holmgren has proven to be the versatile rim-protector that so many scouts believed he could be. On offense, the 7-foot-1 center adds a lob threat who has a very well-rounded offensive game and can attack defenders from the perimeter.

If Holmgren continues to perform at a high level, the Thunder will certainly be in playoff contention this season.

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