Cut by the Thunder at the end of February, Aleksej Pokusevski (2m13, 22 years old) only needed four days to find a new club in the NBA. Relaunched by the Hornets, the young Serbian winger was able to regain sensations at the end of the season, with 7 points and 4 rebounds in an average of 19 minutes under his new tunic. Including a peak of 14 points (6/9 shooting) and 9 rebounds… against the Thunder!
“I had some injuries that really slowed me down and stopped me in my tracks, while the team progressed at high speed while I was unavailable,” he explains for Mozzart Sport. “When the season started, and until I got to Charlotte, I didn't really have a chance to get back on the court and playing time in the rotation. »
While he was entitled to 20 minutes or more his first three seasons with the Thunder, and he seemed to be fully part of the youth project, “Poku” was ultimately left on the sidelines. Weighed down by several injuries and pushed back to the end of the bench. The harsh law of the Great League!
“The first weeks, when I saw what was happening, I didn't care, but I realized quite quickly that we had to put feelings aside and we reached an agreement to end our cooperation . When it was time to leave Oklahoma, I was focused on the NBA. I always have other options in mind and I have to think about what will be best for me. I made my decision when the time came, keeping a cool head. »
Grant Williams as mentor
Well helped by the presence of Vassilije Micic, also traded from the Thunder to the Hornets, to keep morale up in difficult times, Pokusevski is happy to have been able to find the light at the end of the tunnel. He is even optimistic for the rest of his career in North Carolina.
“It's a good feeling, which is very important for the future. I'm happy to have been able to finish the season playing at a good level, compared to what happened to me at the start of the season. I am grateful for the opportunity I received at the Hornets. I have to thank Grant Williams, who gave me a lot of advice. He has a lot of experience for his age and he helped me a lot. »
Having missed the last World Cup last summer, Pokusevski says this time he is ready to return to the national team for the Paris Olympic Games next September. With his teammate Micic, but also Jokic, Jovic and Bogdanovic (and many others), Serbia has a lot of hair to scratch in this upcoming Olympic tournament. And Jokic’s teammates will be in the United States group!
“I have a real desire to play for the national team and I hope to be able to fight for a place in the team”he concludes. “It depends of course on the coach, but I am very motivated and I will do my best to be there. As always, the United States is certainly one of the favorites, and there is also Canada, who has a very good team. I also place us in the lead with the Americans. »
| Aleksej Pokusevski | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 45 | 24 | 34.1 | 28.0 | 73.8 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 8.2 |
| 2021-22 | OKAY | 61 | 20 | 40.8 | 28.9 | 70.0 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 7.6 |
| 2022-23 | OKAY | 34 | 21 | 43.4 | 36.5 | 62.9 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 8.1 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 28 | 15 | 40.5 | 32.7 | 73.2 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 5.2 |
| 2023-24 * | CHA | 18 | 19 | 42.9 | 36.4 | 75.7 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 7.4 |
| 2023-24 * | OKAY | 10 | 6 | 25.0 | 18.2 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Total | 168 | 20 | 39.1 | 30.4 | 70.2 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 7.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
