TULSA — With the top-eight players in the Thunder’s rotation sidelined for Thursday's preseason game at BOK Center , as well as fellow rookie Ajay Mitchell with an ankle sprain, Dillon Jones ’ grip on the game only tightened.
He’d already stood out through a couple preseason games, a fixture in second halves once coach Mark Daigneault has seen all he needs from his regulars. His confidence, his shotmaking, his frame — which sent 6-foot-10 New Zealand Breakers center Freddie Gillespie flying on a screen attempt.
In the Thunder's 117-89 win against the Breakers on Thursday, Jones got the length of a game to show off what he’s already picked up.
Jones finished with a team-high 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting, grabbing 13 boards, adding four steals, a pair of blocks, sinking a pair of 3s and earning several trips to the free-throw line. And expectedly so; NBA end-of-bench hopefuls have seemed startled by his sturdy frame, let alone a Breakers team that lost by 55 points to the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in the week.
No player is as uniquely positioned inside the Thunder's positionless system than Jones. He's defended centers, he's handled pick-and-rolls, he's rebounded and ran offense. His rookie status on a team eyeing contention will especially make that his reality. But perhaps his past has made it easier for Daigneault, a study in what he'd call "stress testing," to test Jones' boundaries.
“It’s not uncharted waters," Jones said. "This is something I’ve done, like, my whole career. I’ve been in games in college and I played point guard. Someone checks in, I move to the five. Someone checks in, I move to the three. The Thunder brought that player in.”
A curious rookie and spirited individual, Jones has worn his expression on his face and under his breath at times. He’s asked constant questions. About positioning, about coverages, about spots on the floor. He's balanced his strength and attempts to be nimble. Now he's trying to package it all together.
“It’s about trying to play the game on my terms, where it’s beneficial for me," Jones said. There’s gonna be quicker players, faster players at times. But the one thing that I have is physical strength, and that’s one thing where I should have that leg up on a lot of people.”
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Malevy Leons aiming to be solid piece for the Blue
If you blinked, you might’ve missed most of Malevy Leons’ buckets. But if you kept your eyes peeled in the same spot all game, you might’ve caught everything.
Leons’ 14-point night (7 of 8 from the field) was spent in the right place, at the right time. Every time. Leons was always under the rim.
On backdoor cuts, off dump-down passes, down the floor on fastbreaks, picking pockets at halfcourt. Leons repeatedly found runways, and even without them, he still had a couple more two-hand dunks.
“He’s a really unique player,” Daigneault said. “He’s very effective, impacts the game almost immediately.”
His film won’t look very versatile for those watching him put the ball in the hoop. But those who rewind, dissecting how he got to the same no-lift, two-hand finish will see that he played off his teammates.
Leons never held the ball long. He hardly served as a hub. But when the ball found him, he made it happen. Mitchell might have one of his favorite targets before they even begin their Blue season.
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Ousmane Dieng given the reins
The prince of the preseason was given the throne. Ousmane Dieng did just about what Thunder royalty might’ve expected from him.
21-year-old Dieng, the longest-tenured OKC player on the floor on Thursday, was handed the reins in a setting most closely aligned with the G League. He looked every bit the player that left his mark with the Blue last season.
Dieng finished with a near triple-double, adding 20 points, 10 boards and nine assists while drilling 3 of his 7 3-point attempts. From the jump, he pulled off-the-dribble 3s. This atmosphere belongs to him, if viewers couldn’t tell by the way he sized defenders up with his handle and operated pick-and-rolls.
This season provides an interesting challenge to Dieng, the most integrated Thunder player among the organization’s G Leaguers and perhaps the furthest along among those with a chance to crack OKC’s actual rotation. Dieng, now in his third season, is probably due for a leap in order to fit into the Thunder’s evolving plans.
It would be uncharacteristic of Daigneault if, when asked about a single player, he didn’t comment on five more. But he talked his way back into showing Dieng some love.
“Ous has really made a lot of strides,” Daigneault said. “He came in as the youngest player in the draft, and has made continuous progress as he’s been here.”
Dieng won’t be doing so much of what he did on Thursday. The on-ball creation, the handle. But the confidence that comes with these settings is a requirement — both here, and in spurts for the Thunder.
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Thunder at Nuggets
NBA PRESEASON: 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ball Center in Denver (Bally Sports Oklahoma)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder vs Breakers takeaways: Dillon Jones leads OKC past New Zealand in NBA preseason
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