(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder may not make the NBA playoffs this season, but they have some intriguing young pieces to build around.
It all starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 31.3 points per game while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and attempting 10.7 free throws a contest.
Even though he missed their last game on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets, they still managed to accomplish a rare feat.
They had Josh Giddey, Isaiah Joe, and Jalen Williams all score at least 30 points in the same game, and what made it even more impressive is the fact that all three men are less than 24 years of age.
It was only the second time in league history that such a trio accomplished the feat.
Josh Giddey, Isaiah Joe and Jalen Williams are the 2nd trio in NBA history, all younger than 24, to each score 30 Pts in the same game.
The 1st trio also did it in a Thunder uniform: Kevin Durant, James Harden & Russell Westbrook in 2012. pic.twitter.com/myLc10aRgf
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 29, 2023
Unfortunately, Oklahoma City fell to the Hornets, 137-134, but there is hope for the future.
Giddey, who is averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists a game this season, is considered their second-best player, and at 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, he possesses plenty of length for a wing player.
Joe is a very good 3-point shooter while Williams is putting up 13.9 points a game on 52.3 percent shooting.
The Thunder are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference and are hanging on to the play-in tournament picture by a thin thread.
But next season, they will become even stronger as big man Chet Holmgren, who was the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is expected to make his pro debut.
Holmgren is out for the entirety of this season after suffering a foot injury during a pro-am game last summer.
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