2017-18 Oklahoma City Thunder player grades: Jerami Grant

Full Name: Houston Jerami Grant

Nickname: unknown (suggestions?)

Years in NBA: 4

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent

Notable Factoid:

Father Harvey (Washington Bullets) and Uncle Horace (Chicago Bulls) were both solid role players in their days in the NBA, with Horace winning multiple titles while playing along side Michael Jordan in Chicago. Older brother, Jerian, currently plays for the Bulls.

Player History:

After 2 seasons with the Syracuse Orangemen, Jerami declared for the NBA draft and selected #39 by the Philadelphia 76ers. On November 1, 2016, the Thunder traded Ersan Ilyasova and a protected 2020 1st round pick to Philly for Grant and picked up his option for the 2017/18 season.

Pre-season Expectations:

The Thunder wanted the ultra-athletic Grant to help anchor the middle of a small-ball lineup with free agent pick-up Patrick Patterson. Patterson, who injured his left knee in December of 2016 and required more surgery just before the opening of training camp, played fewer minutes than expected and Grant had to play more 5 than expected with mixed results.

Regular Season Grade: B+

Like his father and uncle before him, Jerami is a role player who, through energy and heart, made himself nearly indispensable by season’s end. As the season progressed, Grant developed a solid post game and a knack for drawing fouls. His defensive skills, aided by a 7’2” wingspan, also improved steadily. Notable, over the course of the regular season Grant became the team’s second-best PnR roll man (after Steven Adams), regularly showing the screening, pivot, and finish around the rim that the 2nd unit needed to stoke the offense.

Post Season Grade: C

Like most of the Thunder, Jerami struggled against a stifling Jazz defense and saw most of his offensive numbers from 2017 drop.

Most Memorable Game/Moment:

The game that embodied what Jerami Grant is all about was game 2 against the Jazz. The Thunder, as a team, were just not matching Utah’s energy, but there was Grant, still giving up his body and trying to find a way to help the Thunder win:

Future Expectations:

Jerami’s work ethic, combined with his length, athleticism, and time, will one day make him a very dangerous defensive asset. How much he improves at the free throw line, from beyond the arc, and whether he can develop a mid-range shot or not, will set his ceiling.

He may never make an All-Star roster, but Grant is quickly becoming the type of player that any team in the league would love to have at their disposal.

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