After a long wait, Caleb McConnell was signed to a G League contract by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The former Rutgers star originally signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder following the NBA Draft in June. However, following a respectable performance in the NBA Summer League in July, OKC never confirmed that McConnell would be retained.
McConnell played in five games for Oklahoma City during the summer league. He averaged 2.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. His best performance was a 6 point, 10 rebound, 3 assist, 1 block and 1 steal night against the Houston Rockets.
The two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Award winner averaged 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals in 31.7 minutes per game last season for Rutgers. He shot 45.8% from two-point range, 20.3% from three-point range and 65.0% from the foul line. He finished his Rutgers career as the program’s all-time steals leader with 221, passing the great Eddie Jordan (220) in his final game.
With his trademark defense and ability to make winning place, hopefully McConnell can have a productive first professional season with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization.
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