Aleksej Pokusevski of the Oklahoma City Thunder is arguably one of the most exciting rookies to watch in the NBA this season.
Selected 17th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Pokusevski, who is listed at 7-foot and 195 pounds, is currently averaging 7.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the young and rebuilding Thunder squad.
Despite his thin frame, the 19-year-old Serbian big man has been making quite some noise in the league for his tremendous skillset and his high basketball IQ, which the Filipino basketball standout Kai Sotto admires.
“I’ve seen some of his videos… that player’s really talented and very smart,” said Sotto of Pokusevski, the youngest player in the NBA this season.
“Based off from my experience when I played against the Serbian national team, almost all of them play that way. Very smart, all-around players,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.
Given the striking similarities in terms of their size and frame, Sotto believes he can learn a lot from a versatile player like Pokusevski, who shoots the ball well from outside, and has exceptional ball-handling and passing skills for a 7-footer.
“Marami rin akong matututunan from a player like him. Especially dahil 7-footer din siya, pero all-around player,” said Sotto.
(I will learn a lot from a player like him. Especially because he’s also a 7-footer, but an all-around player.)
Sotto, who is set to take his talents to the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL, also feels that in order to improve his game further, he will have to observe the NBA style of play in general, and apply these to his own game.
“I will try my best to watch and study all the players in the NBA, and try to apply these [lessons] to my own game,” he added. – Rappler.com
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