It is well known that it is incredibly hard to make it to the NBA, with estimates around 0.03% of having a professional career. It is even harder to stay in the association and consistently make a team each year. For some former Oklahoma City Thunder members, that realization came sooner than expected.
Aleksej Pokusevski was drafted by the OKC Thunder in 2020 as a versatile, 7'0" forward out of Serbia. During his tenure with the Thunder, Poku averaged eight points, five rebounds and one block in four seasons with the franchise until being traded to the Charlotte Hornets for his last official NBA season.
Darius Bazley was drafted a year prior in the 2019 NBA Draft with the 23rd pick. The 6'8" left-hander played four out of his seven NBA seasons with the Thunder where he blossomed most during his 2020/21 season averaging nearly 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Davis Bertans only played during the 2023/24 season with the Thunder where, despite not seeing much playing time (averaging three points and one rebound), was a veteran addition to help the younger guys.
While the Poku and Bazley never truly developed into all-star caliber players, they were both critical pieces during the Thunder's rebuilding years, which helped pave the way to where OKC is today.
These great athletes having to make professional rosters overseas does bring up the question if the NBA should expand. Not only does a large amount of talent come from other countries every year, but there are a ton of former NBA players that are currently on overseas rosters that could help many NBA teams. While logistics may be difficult to figure out, it would no question benefit the association.
Looking towards the 2024/25 season, Poku signed with KK Partizan NIS, which is a part of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia and the EuroLeague. For Bazley, he is signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. And for Bertans, he plays for the Latvia men's national basketball team.
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