Huestis, Thunder open NBA season Wednesday
Is this the year Josh Huestis begins to build himself a solid NBA career?
“He’s a guy with a lot of tools, man,” said Erik Horne, who covers the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Oklahoman newspaper. “And he’s a guy the Thunder are still trying out where they want him to fit.”
The Thunder open the season Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The team’s first home game is Friday in Oklahoma City against Phoenix. Teams carry 13 players on the roster, but one must be inactive each game.
Horne believes Huestis, the C.M. Russell High and Stanford graduate who has spent much time in the NBA’s Development League the past two seasons, will be primarily with the Thunder this winter.
“I wouldn’t expect to see him active most nights,” Horne said. “There’s a possibility they could trade for another small forward because they need shooting, and Josh isn’t quite there when it comes to that. But he showed promise during the preseason.”
Horne expects Huestis to play behind Kyle Singler and Andre Roberson at the small forward.
“Considering where he started last year to now, I think he’s made some good strides,” Horne said. “He’s shot the 3 better in the preseason this year. I think his bread-and-butter will come on defense more than anything, because of how athletic he us.”
Huestis, a 6-7, 230-pounder who turns 25 on Dec. 19, averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds last year while playing 25 games for OKC’s affiliate in the NBA Development League.
In five preseason games this fall he averaged 22 minutes, 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. Against Memphis in a 110-94 loss Oct. 13, he had seven points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes. Then in the Thunder’s final preseason game, a 97-87 victory over Denver on Oct. 18, he had seven points, five boards and two blocks.
“He had a couple buzzer-beaters just before halftime, one in particular where he looked confident in taking a mid-range jump shot,” Horne said. “He played really well in the preseason, I thought, considering how little experience he’s had with the Thunder. Last year he only had five games (2.8 ppg, 2 rebounds).
“The first thing you always notice about him is his defensive intensity.”
Huestis, who grew up in Great Falls, was picked No. 29 overall by the Thunder in the 2014 draft. He was named twice to the all-Pac 12 Defensive Team in college.
“Josh is a guy who played a lot of power forward in college,” Horne said. “He’s still trying to make that transition. It’s going to be a challenge for him sometimes, particularly on offense, trying to figure out where he needs to be on the floor and what kind of improvement he needs to make on offense.
“But (head coach Billy) Donovan talked about experimenting with him and using him to guard different positions. He can guard, probably, 1 through 4.”
Besides athleticism, Huestis has other intangibles. He’s always been regarded as an excellent teammate.
“The way this league is going, he’s going to play that hybrid small forward-power forward role. If he ever consistently gets his jump shot going or makes a good clip of 3-point shots, there’s going to be a role for him somewhere,” Horne said. “His body type and ability to play multiple frontcourt positions, it’s too valuable.
“And like you mentioned, he’s just a great guy. He’s not a guy who’s going to mess up your locker room. He’s going to fit, because he’s such a high-character person. So there’s a role for him. I don’t know if it’s with the Thunder, long term, but I think there’s a role somewhere. He’s just got to continue to progress offensively.”