On Saturday, two point guards who started the 2019-20 season perceived as potential lottery picks but were not among the first 14 selections faced off in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic game.
Magic point guard Cole Anthony went No. 15, just barely out of the lottery, but Theo Maledon wasn’t picked No. 34 overall.
Maledon made a argument that he too should have been a first-round selection as he made impressive plays for Oklahoma City.
First, as the the first quarter waned to a close, he danced around Anthony. Maledon briefly lost control, recovered, and then hit a crossover that created plenty of space for him to drain the buzzer beater to end the quarter.
Sticking with it. Beating the buzzer! #ThéoMaledon | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/ibXAYwlEDD
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 3, 2021
In the second quarter, he swiftly drove into the lane, absorbed contact and hit the layup to get to the line for an and-one. It sunk.
👀 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠#ThéoMaledon pic.twitter.com/YiSbRzQD3l
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 3, 2021
The rookie has looked good so far this season, and that has allowed the Thunder to not crater when he gets 20 minutes per game.
Maledon’s passing skills were on show in a way that wasn’t fully reflected by the assist tally. He made a baseball pass across the lane that resulted in a Hamidou Diallo drive and layup. When trapped near the baseline, he dumped a behind-the-back pass to Mike Muscala. He flung a left-handed bullet to Diallo for a 3.
This across the body pass from Theo is absolutely a work of art! S/O to Hami for his first 3 of the year! pic.twitter.com/PEka39FnmP
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) January 3, 2021
Gotta 💙 that Maledon/Muscala combo. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/DMUhKrQwer
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 3, 2021
It was Maledon’s best game in the NBA. The rookie finished with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds while making five of his seven shots.
He helped the Thunder get a 108-99 win over the Magic.
