'I can’t be more appreciative': Zavier Simpson's NBA debut includes a Thunder win, Chauncey Billups autograph
Joe MussattoZavier Simpson didn’t try to act like he’s been here.
Tuesday night was Day 1 of his NBA career, and the 25-year-old Thunder guard was downright giddy. Far too happy to play things cool.
When Simpson passed Portland coach Chauncey Billups in the Paycom Center tunnel before the Thunder-Blazers game Tuesday night, Simpson stopped Billups and asked for a photograph.
“That’s Chauncey Billups,” Simpson said. “It’s crazy how time changes like that. Just 48 hours ago I was packing my stuff up to go home, then I got a call-up and now Chauncey Billups is congratulating me.”
Simpson was one of two OKC Blue players, along with forward Georgios Kalaitzakis, who signed a 10-day contract with the Thunder on Tuesday via the hardship exception.
Both started and played north of 40 minutes in the Thunder’s 98-94 win over the Trail Blazers. The Thunder outscored the Blazers 31-12 in the fourth quarter of a game neither organization wanted to win.
OKC Thunder at Utah Jazz:How to watch, three things to know, live updates
It was the Thunder’s final home game of the season.
Lost in the late-season tanking are the cool stories that arise. Like Simpson, a 6-foot guard with a signature hook shot, tallying 10 points and five assists in his first NBA game.
“I’ll definitely remember it by a win,” Simpson said.
They don’t call him Captain Hook for nothing. Simpson’s hook is beautifully bizarre.
He showed it off midway through the first quarter. Simpson swished a 10-foot hook, and the Thunder bench celebrated by miming his motion.
“One thing I’ve found is that guys who are that small that make it here, there’s tricks that they learn,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “It’s almost like they’re learning how to survive in the jungle of basketball.”
Simpson is short by NBA standards, but not even 7-footers can block his patented hook.
“Unguardable,” Thunder teammate Vit Krejci said. “I don’t know how he does that.”
It’s just one of the tools Simpson used to claw his way to the NBA.
“I can’t be more appreciative of just having my name recognized and the opportunity to play at this level,” Simpson said. “I’ve obviously played in the G League, but this is like the real deal.”
Here are four more takeaways:
'So many great memories':Thunder Legacy Weekend gathers ex-players like Nenad Krstic, Steven Hill
Fourth quarter turnaround
The Thunder, which trailed by as many as 19 points, outscored the Blazers by 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Thunder fans who were hoping for more lottery ball combinations had their hopes dashed in a 12-minute snap.
OKC shot 55% in the fourth quarter, including 46% (5-of-11) from three. Portland stumbled to a 5-of-19 line in the fourth quarter.
“The guys we had out there, they just didn’t have any give-up in them,” Thunder center Isaiah Roby said.
Roby recorded a career-high six blocks. That doubled his previous career high.
“I thought the best defense we played all night came in the last part of the game, which is really impressive and a testament to those guys and how hard they played and competed,” Daigneault said.
OKC Thunder schedule:How to watch the Thunder in 2021-22 NBA season
Hoard makes history
Jaylen Hoard etched his name in the Thunder history book with a 24-point and 21-rebound performance.
Only seven Thunder players before him had ever notched a 20/20 game: Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter, Steven Adams, Moses Brown and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Hoard became No. 8.
Since signing his 10-day contract, Hoard has a pair of 20-rebound games.
“It’s hard to take in right now,” Hoard said of his 20/20 game. “It just happened, so it’s kinda weird. Once the season’s over I’ll reflect back on it and be even happier.”
A third of Hoard’s rebounds Tuesday night came on the offensive end.
“He’s just as consistent as they come, professionally, for a young guy,” Daigneault said. “He’s just got a very steady energy, steady competitiveness, and when you do that, you position yourself to play well.”
Hoard’s teammates doused him with water after the game.
More:How the Tankathon website has become a 'hymn of hope' for Thunder fans
Shortened rotation
Daigneault only played seven guys Tuesday night.
Six, really.
Lindy Waters III had a quick eight points on 2-of-3 3-point shooting, but he was pulled for good after playing just four minutes.
No need to ask why. Everybody knows. Most understand.
The Thunder, from an organizational standpoint, went to desperate depths to lose. As did the Blazers.
Aleksej Pokusevski, Aaron Wiggins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Theo Maledon were all in uniform and available for the Thunder, but none of them played.
That’s on top of Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams, Tre Mann, Mike Muscala, Ty Jerome and Derrick Favors already out due to injuries.
Daigneault started Simpson, Kalaitzakis, Hoard, Roby and Vit Krejci.
The Blazers countered with Kris Dunn, Keon Johnson, CJ Elleby, Greg Brown III and Drew Eubanks.
It was that kind of night.
Kalaitzakis exited with an injury in the fourth quarter after playing 43 minutes. Watching him limp off the floor was uncomfortable.
Daigneault said Kalaitzakis is fine, but it’s fair to question the high workloads.
Hoard, Simpson, Roby and Kalaitzakis all played 40-plus minutes. Olivier Sarr played 39 minutes.
Daigneault said the high minute totals weren’t a concern.
“If there was, I wouldn’t have done it,” Daigneault said.
More:What makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander among 'cream of the crop' in the NBA? Check out this stat.
Lottery outlook
The Thunder went 4-0 against the Trail Blazers this season.
Two of those wins have come in the last 10 days.
The wins against Portland might prove costly, but they might not.
Thunder fans are living and dying by the lottery odds, but why not just wait until the actual lottery to celebrate or complain? No point in being prematurely mad.
As things stand, the Thunder is fourth in the reverse standings. OKC is a game back of Detroit for third, and only a half-game ahead of Indiana, which is fifth.