The Oklahoma City Thunder held practice on Wednesday, a day after their impressive blowout preseason win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, Jalen Williams and Ousmane Dieng spoke with the media following practice.
Daigneault provided a rehab update on Aleksej Pokusevski, who’s recovering from an ankle sprain. Williams spoke about developing chemistry with Vasilije Micic and the benefits of having so many playmakers. Dieng talked about playing with more physicality.
Let’s recap what Daigneault, Williams and Dieng had to say following practice as the Thunder prepare for their final preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at Tulsa’s BOK Center.
Poku in practice pic.twitter.com/3vSj1fRARZ
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Bertans shooting catch & shoot 3s pic.twitter.com/FkM2q2mPZ1
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Micic working on his jumper pic.twitter.com/mSvxBtHZiL
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Mark Daigneault on Poku: “He’s progressing. He’s on his feet. He’s on the court. He’s made good progress. He’s actually accelerated faster than we might’ve anticipated.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Jalen Williams on his chemistry with Vasilije Micic: “(He’s) already a really good passer so that makes the game easy… I think he’s already bought in into what we want to do, which makes it even easier.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Jalen Williams on Micic’s half-court lob: “I didn’t think he was gonna throw it at first and I kinda snuck behind the baseline. I only have a couple lobs so that was cool.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Ousmane Dieng on OKC’s versatility: “That’s really good. I feel like everybody can do everything. It makes the game easy. Everybody can pass the ball (&) create something.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Ousmane Dieng on playing physical: “I just gotta think about it every game. I feel like yesterday was better than Charlotte. Just gotta keep doing that.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Ousmane Dieng: “I feel like I’m more comfortable with the ball but I’m trying to improve on that too — play without the ball and creating without the ball.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Mark Daigneault on Olivier Sarr: “Good player. Great height and rim protection. He’s got good defensive range… Physical at the basket. He’s got really good rim skills on both ends of the floor.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
lmao pic.twitter.com/37ByteagAl
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Mark Daigneault on Davis Bertans: “He’s a really good mover… (He) recognizes the space on the floor (moves) very hard. Just creates confusion for the defense. It leverages (his) gravity. (He) helps us on plays where (he’s) not open.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 18, 2023
Mark Daigneault on Ousmane Dieng “he’s a pretty tools-y player” pic.twitter.com/BFk8Ajfs0Z
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) October 18, 2023
