Carlson's unexpected debut ignited a perfect start for OKC, culminating in a spectacular assist from an MVP.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have never been beaten when Branden Carlson is in the starting lineup.
After the Thunder's 119-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the official Oklahoma City record with Carlson as a starter is a perfect 1-0. The big man made his first career start on Monday night due to a rash of injuries and illnesses and he not only performed well, but ended up on the tail end of an all-time classic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play.
OKC's face off against the Grizzlies was on the front end of a back to back. Since the second night of the double set was on the road versus the #2 seed San Antonio Spurs, it made sense for the Thunder to take precaution and rest any players with bumps and bruises. That resulted in OKC playing without Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins or Ousmane Dieng. In other words, Carlson was the only true center active.
The seven footer out of Utah scored 11 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and dished out 2 assists in 25 minutes. Most importantly, Carlson shot 3-6 from downtown. He actually scored OKC's first bucket of the game, a 3 pointer in an otherwise scoreless Thunder opening three minutes.
"Great professionalism. Those guys just work the program. They do a great job of not only staying ready, but improving," Mark Daigneault said of Monday night standout role players Branden Carlson, Kenrich Williams and Brooks Barnhizer. "It's a credit to those guys. It's also a great point of pride for our program because it means everything we're putting around these guys that gives them the platform to improve like that and stay ready like that is working. We're incredibly proud of when we get lifts from guys like that aren't in the normal rotation or that play a larger rotation."
While Carlson certainly will always remember his first ever start, he cashed in on one highlight play that will be forever a part of Gilgeous-Alexander's career highlight reel. Late in the fourth quarter, the reigning MVP found himself pivoting around the free throw line with a defender glued to him. Gilgeous-Alexander improvised and passed the ball off of the backboard, jumped to catch it himself and dished out to Carlson in the corner. It was the most pressure packed shot of the night. Make it and it's an instant classic superstar moment. Miss it and Carlson's the guy who fumbled away one of his all-world teammate's all-time highlights.
Splash.
A 16 point Thunder win and stamped on the MVP's career mixtape. Not a bad first career start for Branden Carlson.