Minnesota Timberwolves: First-half player grades for the Wolves
By Ben Beecken
Josh Okogie
- Has appeared in 35 games and is averaging 21.4 minutes per contest
- Averaging 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game
Josh Okogie was the No. 20 pick in June’s draft, and after not cracking the season-opening rotation, it’s suddenly looking like Okogie might just be the one reason that Wolves fans will be able to look back at the Tom Thibodeau-Scott Layden front office and say ‘thank you’.
Okogie was far from a consensus first-round pick heading into the draft; he didn’t register as a potential Wolves pick anywhere across the mock draft landscape, including here at Dunking With Wolves.
But right after his selection, yours truly drew a comparison between the newest Wolf and Jimmy Butler. The similarities in their college numbers, build and frame, and their playing style are striking, and outside of their respective ages when entering the league and Okogie’s sudden jump in playing time, that comparison rings true.
Okogie is a defense-first player who is already a solid all-around NBA defender. He’s built like Butler but is more athletic, and even more dynamic in the open floor than a young Butler. Like Butler as a rookie, his offensive game is painfully raw, although recent games have shown ability to get to the rim off the dribble in the flow of the halfcourt offense.
Okogie’s value is on defense, but he’s good enough in transition and dynamic enough when he gets the ball in the paint to be a ‘plus’ player as a 20-year-old. His role will decrease some when Robert Covington returns from injury, but Derrick Rose is banged up enough that Okogie will surely not lose his role in the rotation entirely.
It’s hard to imaging Okogie having a better rookie year; while his 7.1 points and three rebounds per game don’t jump off the page, his defense and energy on both ends of the floor are what are driving the Okogiemobile.