OKC Thunder: Can Vasilije Micic Make an All-Rookie Team?

The Oklahoma City Thunder has multiple players who will compete for a spot on an All-Rookie team, but one is unique.

Although he is 29 years old and was drafted in 2014, Vasilije Micic is entering his first NBA season. Alongside Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace, the Thunder has a rookie trio that will play significant minutes.

Micic signed a three-year, $23.5 million contract with the Thunder this offseason. As a highly anticipated addition, Micic could be an immediate impact player in year one.

Micic’s preseason games gave the Thunder a glimpse of what to expect from him. As expected, Micic’s playmaking stood out.

In four preseason games, Micic has racked up 24 assists and has set up his teammates for a number of other good looks. While his passing ability rivals Giddey’s at times, Micic’s scoring is still a work in progress.

While he has generated plenty of points off his assists, Micic has only put up 22 points in the preseason. Micic has shot 8-of-26 from the floor in his preseason action and never scored more than eight points in a game.

As Micic gets more comfortable with the NBA game, his scoring should also start to come along. He should get that opportunity as he will likely be one of, if not the top, in minutes off the bench for the Thunder this season.

As someone with considerable professional experience in Europe, Micic’s All-Rookie case is uncommon, but there are similar examples in recent years. The most recent similar All-Rookie selection was Bogdan Bogdanovic in 2017-18, when he made the second team as a 25-year-old rookie.

But Micic’s case will contrast with the other examples as most who have been in his position have been players with more of a score-first mindset. Others, such as Bojan Bogdanovic and Nikola Mirotic, were score-first players but also played on playoff teams in their rookie seasons.

Oklahoma City’s success could significantly impact Micic’s chances to make an All-Rookie team, especially because Holmgren is virtually a lock to make a team if he stays healthy. While scoring has gotten others in similar situations on the team in the past, Micic’s passing could be near the top of this rookie class.

Of players who have played at least 31 games, the lowest number of games played by an All-Rookie selection in an 82-game season, Gary Grant in 1988-89 was the last player to average at least five assists per game and not make a team.

So, if Micic can be one of the rookie leaders in assists, his chances of making an All-Rookie team rise significantly. Assuming he can hit the 65-game threshold, Micic’s playmaking could carry him to a spot on an All-Rookie team.