The Thunder have a nice set of rookies that have really helped the bench this season. Shooting guard James Harden will be a starter down the road for the Thunder but he is a backup for now. Harden has played in 55 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 23.0 minutes, 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Harden is not shooting well overall (39.3% from the floor) but he is a solid 38.2% from three point range. So maybe better shot selection will help Harden out in the near future. Center Serge Ibaka has been a solid backup this season for the Thunder. He has played in 47 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 16.4 minutes, 5.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Ibaka is shooting 50.5% from the floor but only 53.1% from the free throw line which proves that he does most of his scoring in close. Ibaka has the potential to be a starter down the road for the Thunder. Point guard Eric Maynor has finally given Russell Westbrook a backup that the Thunder can trust. Maynor has played in 28 games (0 starts) for the Thunder and he is averaging 14.8 minutes, 4.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Overall, Maynor has played in 54 games (2 starts) with the Thunder & Jazz this season and he is averaging 14.3 minutes, 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Center B.J. Mullens is a very raw player who has spent most of his rookie year in the D-League. Mullens has played in 9 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 1.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

Rookie point guard Eric Maynor is playing really well for the Thunder since coming over from the Jazz in a trade. Maynor has played in 23 games (0 starts) for the Thunder and he is averaging 15.3 minutes, 4.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The best thing about Maynor is that he allows Russell Westbrook to get the time off needed to stay fresh. In fact, Westbrook’s shooting has gotten better since Maynor came over from the Jazz.

Shooting guard James Harden will likely continue to push Thabo Sefolosha for minutes this season. Harden has played in 35 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 22.2 minutes, 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He is only shooting 38.3% from the floor and that is the main reason he is not starting for the Thunder yet but he has a very bright future with the team. C/PF Serge Ibaka is really stepping up lately for the Thunder and it’s earning him more playing time. Ibaka has played in 27 games (0 starts) for the Thunder so far this season and he is averaging 15.7 minutes, 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.1 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Ibaka is shooting a outstanding 52.6% from the floor this season for the Thunder. Point guard Eric Maynor has really played well since coming over from the Jazz in a trade recently. He has played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 14.8 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Maynor is giving Russell Westbrook the break he needs to keep fresh in games. Center B.J. Mullens has played in 1 game (0 starts) and he has played 1 scoreless minute. He is playing in the D-League right now.

James Harden got off to a slow start for the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite being the number three pick in the NBA draft.  Harden has been coming into his own as of late though, and has scored in double figures 6 of last 9 games after failing to do so in his first 11 games.  Harden has a good knowledge of the game, especially for a rookie.  See where he ranks amongst the other rookies here at my list for the Top Rookies in the NBA so far.

The Thunder have not given their rookies much of a chance to show what they can do yet. 20-year old shooting guard James Harden is the player the Thunder really have high hopes for in the near future. He has played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Thunder so far this season and he is averaging 17.5 minutes, 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. 20-year old center Serge Ibaka has only played in 4 games (0 starts) so far this season and he is averaging 6.0 minutes, 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game this year. Fellow 20-year old center B.J. Mullens has yet to get into a game for the Thunder this year.