Aaron Wiggins<\/a> had the sport ball in tow as he ascended the stage for his postgame press convention.\u00a0
\u201cHave you learnt the place that ball is gonna go?\u201d Wiggins was requested.\u00a0
Wiggins gawked on the magical orb.\u00a0
\u201cSomeplace in my man cave, for positive,\u201d he mentioned with a smile.\u00a0
Wiggins scored a career-high 41 points<\/a> with a career-high 14 rebounds Saturday evening within the Thunder\u2019s blowout of the Kings.\u00a0
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The fourth-year Thunder wing had by no means earlier than had a 30-point sport within the NBA, a lot much less a 40-piece. His faculty career-high, in three years at Maryland, was 27 factors.\u00a0
You see outlier stat traces in meaningless March and April video games, however this was a pure efficiency for Wiggins till he reached the 37-point mark. Then he began chucking, willed on by the gang and his teammates. No disgrace in that. Everyone within the constructing needed to see Wiggins cross the 40-point threshold.\u00a0
He turned the seventh participant in Thunder historical past to attain 40 factors in a sport, becoming a member of Kevin Durant (45 occasions), Russell Westbrook (43), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20), Paul George (10), James Harden (as soon as) and Lu Dort (as soon as).\u00a0
Dort\u2019s inclusion within the 40-point membership is shocking, however Wiggins\u2019 entrance was gorgeous. Probably the most unlikely 40-point sport in Thunder historical past. One of the crucial unlikely 40-point video games in latest NBA historical past.\u00a0
For context, right here\u2019s the listing of gamers \u2014\u00a0with a profession scoring common of 8.0 factors or fewer \u2014\u00a0who’ve scored 40-plus factors in a sport this century.\u00a0
Extra:<\/strong>How does Luka Doncic trade affect OKC Thunder odds to reach NBA Finals?<\/a>
Profession factors per sport: 4.8<\/strong>
Thunder followers may bear in mind this one. Lofton scored 42 factors for the Grizzlies in Oklahoma Metropolis on the final day of the 2022-23 season, a sport through which neither crew had something to play for.\u00a0
Lofton went 17 of 25 from the ground and eight of 12 from the free-throw line.\u00a0
It was the one begin Lofton logged in his temporary, 45-game NBA profession. He now performs for the Shanghai Sharks within the Chinese language Basketball League.\u00a0
Lofton is the one participant this century \u2014\u00a0who\u2019s averaged fewer than 5.0 factors per sport \u2014\u00a0who\u2019s logged a 40-point sport.\u00a0
Profession factors per sport: 5.5\u00a0<\/strong>
Flynn scored 50(!!!) for the Pistons in a meaningless sport in opposition to the Hawks final April. And he didn\u2019t even begin!\u00a0
In 34 minutes off the bench, Flynn shot 18 of 25 from the ground, together with 5 of 9 from 3-point vary. He was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line.\u00a0
Flynn has solely appeared in six NBA video games since then. He\u2019s spent this season with the G League Austin Spurs.\u00a0
Profession factors per sport: 6.2\u00a0<\/strong>
Wilkins, the son of Gerald and nephew of Dominique, scored 41 factors in a SuperSonics double-overtime win in opposition to the Hawks within the 2007-08 season \u2014\u00a0the yr earlier than the franchise relocated to Oklahoma Metropolis.\u00a0
Wilkins shot 15 of 20 from the sphere whereas logging 51 minutes. A rookie Kevin Durant had 21 factors.\u00a0
Wilkins performed in 41 video games (14 begins) on the inaugural Thunder crew in 2008-09. He averaged 5.3 factors per sport for OKC.\u00a0
Extra:<\/strong>How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder grade out in first half of 2024-25 NBA season?<\/a>
Profession factors per sport: 7.1<\/strong>
The much-hyped French guard solely performed 4 NBA seasons, all with the Mavericks.\u00a0
He randomly exploded for 40 factors \u2014\u00a0draining 9 3-pointers \u2014\u00a0in a 2010 win in opposition to the Warriors.\u00a0
Beaubois, 36, performs professionally in Turkey.\u00a0
Profession factors per sport: 7.2\u00a0<\/strong>
Watson performed for 5 groups in his 10-year NBA profession. Solely twice did he common north of 10 factors in a season. A type of seasons was 2009-10, when he scored 40 factors for the Warriors in a win in opposition to the Kings.\u00a0
Watson, a profession 37% 3-point shooter, went 9 of 11 from 3-point vary.\u00a0
Profession factors per sport: 7.8<\/strong>
With Jalen Williams sidelined, Wiggins thrived in an expanded position in opposition to the Kings.\u00a0
His profession excessive earlier than Saturday evening was 28 factors.\u00a0
Wiggins has been the last word professional throughout his time in Oklahoma Metropolis. His position has fluctuated however by no means has he performed the lead position as he did Saturday.\u00a0
Extra:<\/strong>Does Thunder have a problem when it comes to Mavericks, Warriors? Yes and no<\/a>
Joe Mussatto is a sports activities columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a narrative thought for Joe? Electronic mail him at\u00a0jmussatto@oklahoman.com<\/a><\/u>. Help Joe’s work and that of different Oklahoman journalists by buying a\u00a0digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com<\/a><\/u>.<\/em><\/p>\n