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Rookie Grades for Thunder Summer League Debut

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The Thunder retook the hardwood just 13 days after winning the NBA championship. But instead of the title winners, the players who suited up are potential game-changers for a hopeful dynasty out on the plains. 2024 12th overall pick Nikola Topić and 2025 44th overall pick Brooks Barnhizer took the floor for the first time in a Thunder jersey. The squad ultimately lost to the Grizzlies 92-80, but there were positives to take away from the game. Here are the grades for both Thunder rookies from their Summer League debut.

Rookie Grades for Thunder Summer League Debut

Nikola Topić

Topić is one of the most anticipated Thunder rookies in recent history. The 19-year-old Serbian guard sat out the 2024-2025 season due to an ACL tear. Now, he is healthy and ready to compete for a title with the defending champs. Fans tuned into his debut, and it was almost perfect.

The most significant question mark surrounding the lottery pick was his knee. How was his athleticism going to look coming back from surgery? At times, he looked sluggish and slow, but this is due to this game being his first in 14 months. Basketball-wise, there was not much to complain about. He was hitting three-pointers, which was a concern when he was drafted, and he was able to drive and finish through contact in the paint. The thing that stood out most was his passing. At one point, Topić went up for a three-pointer and passed out of it to an open Barnhizer, who knocked down the shot.

The only downside was his turnovers, but the number does not tell the whole story. His first turnover came on an attempted lob. This is a play that Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein thrived with. Topić learned that those two players can read that pass, so he made it. If he were playing with Holmgren, Jalen Williams, or Hartenstein, this would have been an assist. The majority of his teammates also missed open attempts when Topić passed it to him. In reality, he should have finished with close to double-digit assists.

Overall, Nikola Topić gets an A for his Thunder Summer League debut grade. He has a fantastic basketball IQ but needs to clean up the turnovers. Everything else looked perfect.

Brooks Barnhizer

If Thunder fans did not know who Brooks Barnhizer was, they definitely should now. His style of play fits perfectly with what the Thunder want to do. He hustles, dives for loose balls, and is an excellent defender. At times, he even showed shades of Alex Caruso while on the court.

Barnhizer did not take many shots offensively, only five, but he still finished with nine points. His shot needs some work, but the foundation for an excellent three-point shooter is there. Hustle is the most significant part of his game, and it showed up both on the court and in the box score. Barnhizer led both teams in rebounds, finishing with 13 total. He also came away with a steal, thanks to his hustle and effort. He poked a ball away at one point and then dove immediately on it to secure the steal and possession for Oklahoma City. This is something you cannot teach, and Barnhizer has a natural ability for these hustle plays.

I am giving Brooks Barnhizer an A for his Thunder Summer League debut grade. I wanted to see more offensively, but everywhere else, you cannot complain; he hustled, played great defense, and overall looked like a great teammate. With games like this, Barnhizer could force Mark Daigneault to give him some minutes during the regular season.

© SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

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