Countdown to Tip-Off | 7 Days

Oklahoma City has a fresh-looking roster this season, and newcomer Ersan Ilyasova will be wearing number 7 for the Thunder. Ilyasova arrived in Oklahoma City as a part of of the trade that sent Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic. An experienced veteran, Ilyasova has played professional basketball for the last thirteen seasons, five of them overseas and eight of them in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons, and the Orlando Magic.

In his NBA career, Ilyasova has averaged 10.6 points and 6 rebounds while playing 24.1 minutes per game. The Thunder has struggled in the past to be a consistent 3-point shooting team, and while Ilyasova will likely be nothing more than a role player coming off the bench, he brings a solid and consistent shot from behind the arc with a career average of 37%.

Thus far in five preseason games, Ilyasova has averaged 9.6 ppg and 5.4 rbp in only 17.8 mpg. He had his best game against the Dallas Mavericks, putting up 19 points on 7/11 shooting, including 3/5 from downtown, and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes.

While Ilyasova’s role on the Thunder is still yet to be determined, his experience in the NBA will undoubtedly be a positive contribution to the team whether it be on the court or in the locker room. Hopefully he manages to get some time on the court and can find some open shots to put up some modest stats.

Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter.