Nerlens Noel, who was once a promising young star but has been kicked around the league a bit, feels great now that he's joined the Oklahoma City Thunder.
More accurately, not only does he believe the Thunder will give him a chance to shine, but he feels revitalized.
By way of Basketball Insiders:
“I really think it’s a great opportunity,” Noel said during a Las Vegas Summer League scrum. “I think it’s a great fit for myself and the organization. With the athleticism and the pieces that they have now, I think I can really come and make a significant difference to the speed of the game.”
“It’s really been a great last few days, going to OKC, signing and just feeling very welcome from the whole organization — that really means a lot.”
Noel was obviously drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, and after what appeared to be a decent enough start to his career, he hasn't been able to stick with an any NBA team for a substantial period of time. Moreover, he hasn't exactly seen a ton of time on the floor when healthy.
“[Westbrook and George] called the night of free agency when I was meeting with coach Billy [Donovan],” Noel said. “They told me, let’s get it done and that we want to do some special things this year. I definitely felt where they were coming from. I gave it a little thought and with as much love as they showed, it became an easy decision.”
Only time will tell how Nerlens Noel functions now that he is with OKC, but here is to hoping he can find a way to maximize his talent, because he's certainly talented enough to get legit minutes in today's NBA.
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