Syracuse Basketball: Grading the Orange in the NBA

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 8: The NBA Playoff logo seat covering, on the Utah Jazz team's chairs, before their game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 8: The NBA Playoff logo seat covering, on the Utah Jazz team's chairs, before their game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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Forward. Oklahoma City Thunder. JERAMI GRANT. A-.

The high-flying athletic freak out of Syracuse just had his best season in the NBA.

Grant played in 81 games for the Thunder, coming off the bench in all but one.  However, in 20.3 MPG, Jerami put up 8.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and shot a career-best 54% from the field per ESPN.  In fact, all of Jerami’s stats this year ranked near or at the top of his 4 NBA seasons thus far.

This season was more about Grant’s worth to the Thunder than anything.  Time after time, Grant delivered when needed, whether it was in crunch time, on the glass, or for a defensive stop.  He also showed how important he was at multiple positions, as Grant played anything from small forward to center when needed.  We really shouldn’t have expected anything less, but Grant was a beauty to watch this season.

I truly believe that Jerami has the skill set to take his game to an even higher level.  His 54% field goal percentage showed that Grant can score with ease.  He also shot close to 30% from three, which albeit is by no standards ‘good’, but given his range at Syracuse, is a big improvement.  If Grant can get stronger, he can be a legitimate force at power forward.