The Oklahoma City Thunder haven't exactly had the best luck when it comes to injuries early on this season.
The team was already scheduled to be without Andre Roberson for the first couple of months of the season, but the likes of Russell Westbrook and Terrance Ferguson have been bitten by the injury bug thus far. However, head coach Billy Donovan is trying to look on the bright side and believes that there has been opportunities for some of the younger players on the roster after the team has been forced to deal with several injuries.
With all the injuries lately Donovan has been pleased with how some of the younger guys have stepped up. #Thunder pic.twitter.com/Mevb4MBNlh
— Randy Renner (@RandyRenner) November 26, 2018
Donovan added that it's given younger players the opportunity to grow and learn at the NBA level during the early portion of the 2018-19 season.
Second round pick Hamidou Diallo has been one of the most impressive players on the roster so far. Prior to suffering a sprained ankle, the former Kentucky standout was averaging 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 47.0 percent from the field. Diallo recently scored 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting in a 117-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 19.
With Diallo going down, Deonte Burton has stepped up and played 35 minutes off the bench over the last two games for the Thunder. Burton scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets this past Friday. The former Iowa State standout is currently on a two-way deal with the Thunder after going undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Thunder clearly have a very deep bench, which will come in handy down the stretch. It also will allow players like Ferguson and Roberson to be eased back onto the court when they're ready to return.