Thabo Sefolosha is a 25-year-old elder statesman. He speaks three languages, has played professional basketball in four countries and is the George Washington of Swiss born NBA players. Playing on the Oklahoma City Thunder, hands down the most likable team in the league, Sefolosha has comfortably nestled himself beside Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook as a fragment of the team’s burgeoning success.
On this young, charismatic group his job isn’t to tally points. He doesn’t have plays called for him or have his teammates look to him when the shot clock is winding down. He scores less than the other four starters and rookie sixth man James Harden, he’s smart and like all effective role players knows his limitations. But he’s also loaded with talent and after signing an extremely organizational friendly contract extension at the beginning of the season, is an tremendously underrated piece of the Thunder’s future.
Players like Sefolosha are always needed by championship contenders. Players who are trusted by their superstar teammate to do what their job is on a nightly basis. That glue guy who goes virtually unnoticed outside of his home city until the spring when they make three or four huge plays in a nationally televised playoff game. Last season for the Lakers it was Trevor Ariza and in 2008 the Celtics had James Posey. The Spurs had Bruce Bowen in Duncan’s shadow and Michael Jordan had Paxson during his first title reign.
In his 30 minutes of playing time a night, Sefolosha is a guardian. A 6’ 7†guard who is paid to make his teammate’s lives easier (Thabo literally means “one who brings joyâ€) by not only assuming responsibility for the opponent’s most dynamic scorer but on the nights where that isn’t possible, he serves obediently as an effective help defender. Durant says he’s one of the top three defenders in the game, but don’t take his word for it.
Traded from the Bulls for a first round draft pick at last year’s trade deadline, since coming aboard the Thunder’s team defense has been on the incline (or decline depending on how you look at it). Last year their defensive rating was 20th out of 30, right now they’re currently 3rd. They were 23rd in opposing points per game, now they’re 7th. Defensive improvements like this can never be attributed to a single player, but his presence certainly helped. He sticks superstars so his own doesn’t have to. The Dwyane Wade’s, the Kobe Bryant’s, the Joe Johnson’s. They are all his duty while Durant, Green and Westbrook are able to focus on putting the ball in the basket.
Sefolosha’s usage percentage is at a career low 11.1% and his scoring average is the lowest its been since he was a rookie. That is to say when Oklahoma City is in possession of the basketball, Thabo Sefolosha isn’t asked to do much. As a matter of fact he probably couldn’t comply if called upon. His accuracy from deep has uncharacteristically fallen since entering the league. This might be due to the executive voices whispering in his ear that defense is what they pay him to play while jacking up shots will first send him to the bench and then out of town. Kevin Durant is there to shoot and score. It’s what he does exceptionally well; it’s his trademark. Thabo Sefolosha’s is defense.
As far as American professional athletes go, Thabo is a rare breed. He puts his team ahead of himself and is aware of his spot on Oklahoma’s totem pole. He signed an exceptionally generous five year, 15.5 million dollar contract that shows loyalty and sacrifice. Not to say he would’ve been granted Lebron money, but Sefolosha most likely took a pay cut when deciding to stay with Oklahoma City for such a long period of time. Sefolosha fits splendidly with the Thunder and in two or three years, when they’re knocking on the doors of a championship, expect him to make those three or four crucial plays to help knock that door over.
