The Oklahoma City Thunder are still riding high after winning the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers last month.
The Thunder were the best team in the league throughout the regular season and only cemented that status during the playoffs.
The offseason has also gone incredibly well so far, with new long-term contracts for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Many Thunder fans may not be paying any attention to the Summer League, but those who are have had a lot to say about Branden Carlson.
Photo by William Purnell/Getty ImagesOKC Thunder fans react to Branden Carlson performance
Carlson is already familiar to OKC Thunder fans because he played 32 regular-season games for them in 2024-25.
He averaged almost four points and two rebounds in less than eight minutes per game, rarely having the chance to show his true potential.
Well, that’s what the Summer League is for, and Carlson has made the most of it. He scored 23 points, including four three-pointers, in the 92-75 win against the Orlando Magic.
“He’s actually so nice, like every time he touches the floor, I’m impressed,” a Thunder fan commented on X.
“I need my guy to get real playing time this year, I don’t know how, but I need it,” another wrote. “He will be a big part of our future,” one added.
An OKC supporter posted: “It took less than two minutes for Branden Carlson to drain his first three of the game. That quick release is looking better than ever.”
“Welcome back, Branden Carlson,” one said. “He just drilled a 3-pointer despite being fouled and sank the ensuing free throw.”
Another Tweet read: “They talk about how 7-footers that can shoot threes, catch lobs, and block shots are rare archetypes in the NBA, and Branden Carlson has just been out there without a guaranteed NBA contract for 2 years now.”
Photo by William Purnell/Getty ImagesBranden Carlson deserves more playing time next season
The biggest issue for Branden Carlson is that he will be trying to crack the rotation of the defending NBA champions next season.
The Thunder have also not lost any pieces this offseason, so head coach Mark Daigneault will probably look to ‘run it back.’
However, the good news for Carlson is that OKC is actually quite light in the big man department, with just Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
And the pair often play next to each other, opening up some backup five minutes for Carlson, especially in the regular season.