Back in 2020, the Cleveland Cavaliers thought they had a diamond in the rough when they took Isaac Okoro with the fifth-overall pick.
The Auburn product drew comparisons to players like Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and Paul George thanks to his defensive expertise and athleticism, and some thought he would be the steal of the NBA Draft.
But despite his defensive skills, Okoro failed to make an impact early in his career, struggling with injuries and poor efficiency, and it seemed like his offense was never going to catch up with his defense.
It reached a point where Okoro was no longer a lock to start for the Cavs, and that might as well be just what he needed to slowly start to turn his career around.
In fact, he had arguably the best offensive performance of his career on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, as he went 6/6 from the field and 4/4 from beyond the arc, the most field goals made without a miss in his career.
Moreover, per Cavs Notes, he’s shooting a remarkable 62.5% from three-point land (15/24) since January 1.
Tonight, @isaacokoro303 shot a perfect 6-6 from the field and 4-4 from three-point range.
It was his most field goals made without a miss in a single game of his @NBA career.
Okoro is now shooting .625 (15-24) from three since Jan. 1.
— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) January 19, 2023
Okoro needs to get his offensive groove going to be an impactful player in this league.
He has the physical tools to be an elite wing and backcourt defender, but he needs to be more aggressive and consistent if he wants to hold on to the starting spot.
He’s just 22 years old and can still turn things around, so let’s hope he’s just a late bloomer and not another bust as a top-5 pick.
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