Stiles Points: OKC Thunder See Huge Boost From Late Bloomer Vasilije Micic

This summer, the saga ended. Two-time EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic finally made the leap to the NBA, which was teased for the past three summers. 

From October through December, Micic logged just 13 games for the Thunder, playing 12.6 minutes a night in those contests. With more DNP-CDs than appearances, fans began to wonder just how impactful the overseas star would be for Oklahoma City. 

Since the turn of the New Year, Micic has appeared in 14 tilts, none better than his recent scoring outburst against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. 

Vasilije Micic could help the 2023-24 OKC Thunder reach a new ceiling. 

This was expected, with the organization and Micic being transparent about the long-term adjustment the now 30-year-old would need to make during his rookie campaign. 

Throughout training camp, Micic was honest about the challenges he faced adjusting to NBA athletes, isolation-heavy offenses, spacing, and the rigorous pace of play. He made it clear he did not need a playing time promise, but instead, he needed time to adjust to NBA action. 

On Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets, the 30-year-old guard, who has played professional basketball for 14 seasons, posted his best NBA outing. 

In over 16 minutes of action, Micic scored 12 points, grabbed two rebounds, and dished out five assists. 

Coming off the bench for the hobbled Thunder, who are missing Jalen Williams (Ankle) and Isaiah Joe (Sternum), Micic looked more comfortable than he previously had to this point at the NBA level. 

Showcasing decisive drives, finishing through contact, and even improved defensive rotations, it was easy to see Micic's impact. 

"That was as comfortable as [Vasilije Micic] has looked...he really helped us at the start of the second [quarter] and the start of the fourth [quarter], just getting that unit organized and playing in a great flow. Obviously, that opened the game up in the fourth quarter," Mark Daigneault said of the EuroLeague star. 

Micic was a team-best plus-14 in this contest, helping the Thunder swell their lead in the fourth quarter despite being down one of their best final-frame contributors of the season. 

The crafty guard not only showed off his stellar instincts and floor general skillset but also began to pick up the Thunder's complex rotation-heavy style of defense. 

Previously, Micic was late to his assignments or seemed to be outright confused about who he was tasked with picking up, but the defensive end was much improved for the rookie. 

"Our style of basketball is very specific, we play mainly with four small players, a lot of aggressiveness, and Chet [Holmgren] who is capable of doing a lot of things as a guard, which is very interesting to be a part of it. But once you learn how to play with the ball, it is kind of easier to adjust to it." Micic said following the Thunder's 105-100 win over the Nuggets. 

As Micic gets more comfortable in the NBA, he can unlock a new ceiling for the Thunder. With the 30-year-old providing consistent structure to the secondary units, working to get his teammates open looks, and even pitching in points, it is easy to see how this late bloomer can help bolster an already stellar Thunder squad. 

"This team is really growing so fast, and whether people expect it or not, inside of our team, we know what we are doing every day. Every day, I also learn from them. It is kind of funny for me to have to talk to guys younger than me that much, but they really talk smartly, and pay attention to every detail," Micic explained how those tutoring sessions from his younger peers have helped him adjust to life in the association. 

Oklahoma City certainly is growing fast, and while no one expected them to deliver a 33-15 record on February 1st, they have arrived as one of the best teams in the NBA. 

While many question if the Thunder can keep up this "uncommon maturity level" that the organization has discussed from top to bottom, throwing in a 30-year-old proven winner can certainly help steady the waters for an inexperienced group in big-time games. 

Stiles Points: 

• The Oklahoma City Thunder have yet to go on a three-game losing streak after rebounding from a two-game skid against Denver. The Thunder are one of just four teams to not drop more than two in a row during the 2023-24 season as of Feb. 1st (Boston, Minnesota, Milwaukee).
• Rookie Chet Holmgren swatted five shots in this game, marking his sixth game of five or more blocks. 
• Aaron Wiggins is shooting a career-best 43% on corner 3-pointers, 60% on non-corner triples, and 52% overall from beyond the arc. Wiggins is in the 99th percentile on catch-and-shoot jumpers, according to Synergy. 
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged his 8,000th career point during his 34-point performance against the Nuggets. 
• Kenrich Williams started in place of the injured Jalen Williams, marking the first spot start made by someone other than rookie Cason Wallace. One school of thought for the change could be Mark Daigneault wanting to elongate the team's guard depth in lieu of Isaiah Joe.

Song of the Day: Roustabout by Elvis Presley