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Syracuse Basketball: Dissecting Jerami Grant’s unforeseen growth in OKC

By Zachary Weisleder

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes after a loose ball as Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers sprawls on the court during the second half of the game at the Moda Center on April 14, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 104-99. 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 Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes after a loose ball as Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers sprawls on the court during the second half of the game at the Moda Center on April 14, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 104-99. 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 Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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How Jerami Grant’s athletic longevity and an adaptation from long range has made him an NBA mainstay since leaving Syracuse basketball.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a low-risk, high-reward chance on Jerami Grant when acquiring him in November of 2016. Grant was in his third season out of Syracuse and was averaging eight points and three rebounds through Philadelphia’s first two games of the season.

The versatile forward went on to play in 78 games for Oklahoma City the rest of the way, compiling averages of five points and three rebounds on 47% shooting.

The following season, the 23-year-old, former 39th overall pick continued to show his athletic longevity, playing in 81 of the Thunders 82 games, logging 20 minutes a night. The forward scored over eight points a game on a career-best 53% shooting and saw increases in his rebounding and assist numbers.

Just one year and eight months after the Thunder took the experiment of developing Grant, he was rewarded in July of 2018, signing a three-year, $27 million contract at just 24-years-old.

Grant entered the 2018-19 season as the 50th highest paid forward across the association. Following the 2018-19 season, Grants unprecedented growth in all facets of his game had people across the league deeming his signing from the previous summer a steal for Oklahoma City.

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Grant entered the 2018-19 season as Oklahoma City’s 6th man, a position he would hold for just three games before spending the next 77 as the team’s permanent starter at the power forward position.

By the end of the season, Grant averaged a career-best 33 minutes per game and logged career-high averages in points (13.6), rebounds (5.2), and at the free throw line (71%). Perhaps the most surprising leap Grant made in his fifth season came from beyond the three-point line. Grant attempted a career 3.7 three-pointers per game and hit 39% of them.

Grant’s incredible 2018-19 campaign was the product of consistency and occasional dominance. In April, Grant scored 28 points and grabbed five rebounds in Milwaukee against the NBA leading Bucks, one of the 15 times during the season that the forward scored 19 or more points in a game.

Suiting up next to Paul George and Russell Westbrook won’t garner any forward much individual recognition around the league. However, Grant finished in the top-20 of All-Star fan voting and Western Conference forwards, indicating that the league and fans that empower it were taking note of his dominance leading up to February.

In April, Oklahoma City’s round one loss to Portland was the result of everyone but Grant not playing to their ability. Aside from Grant (45%), the Thunder shot horrendously from beyond the three-point line in the first round. Grant scored 12 points and averaged two blocks throughout the five-game series and displayed his ability to guard any position.

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Heading into his sixth season out of Syracuse, Grant is one of the most underpaid players across the league due to his consistent athletic longevity and efficient scoring prowess and is quickly becoming one of the most underrated talents across the NBA.

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