NBA rookie first impressions & early injury fallout with Tom Haberstroh | The Kevin O'Connor Show

Kevin O'Connor (0:00)

Welcome back to The Kevin O'Connor Show. Today, we're talking rookies. What are our first impressions from the first week of their NBA seasons? We get into the guys from the top four, some non top four guys as well. But before that, Tom Haberstroh and I talk about the latest on Oklahoma City, Cooper Flagg's big game, Nicola Jokic, and most importantly, Mo Bamba is back. That's all coming up right now.

All right, now joining me from Tom The Finder, Philadelphia 76ers sideline reporter, Tom Haberstroh. What's up, Tom?

Tom Haberstroh (0:39)

I would say not a whole lot, but a lot is going on. The Sixers got off to four games in six nights to open the season. A lot of fun comments from Jalen Brown to start the season, LeBron starting at the five, and then the rest of the NBA is happening. Lots going on, man.

Kevin O'Connor (0:57)

You are a busy, busy, busy man. That's why you're in your hotel room. I know you'll be traveling shortly after we record on this Tuesday morning. I wanted to do a special third episode this week because it's so early in the season. I wanted to look at some rookies, our first impressions of rookies so far this year. But before we get to that, last night we got the official word on Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

J-Dub has a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle, very similar to the Hayward Injury who had the dislocated ankle as well. Cason Wallace has a torn labrum. Both of them are undergoing surgery. They are out for likely the entire season. Both of them will be. AJ Mitchell now starting for Oklahoma City last time had 30 points. Big offensive performance for him in the OKC win over Phoenix. But Tom, the official word on J-Dub and Wallace, worse than anticipated for Wallace, at least. I didn't even talk about him yesterday with his surgery. All the focus was on J-Dub and J-Dub. It's just about as bad as anybody could have expected. So for OKC, man, what are your initial thoughts on how they approach the remainder of the season?

Tom Haberstroh (2:07)

Well, man, this is where the OKC culture and community, all that, the developmental program in OKC that we always hear about, and then the drafting by Sam Presti and his front office, this is when it comes up big. You know, we heard from Sam Presti this week after the news. He delivered the news on the press conference about Cason Wallace, and he said, in our four walls, we have this line that there's a difference between being positive and being optimistic, and they're trying to be optimistic and saying, look, these guys, we've got them under contract, they'll be back.

And there's going to be a long road to recovery, but we have some players in this organization that have some great opportunities to step up. And AJ Mitchell, Alex Cruz also leaving with an injury, which we'll see about that, but they're going to have to have guys stepping up. And I think they have as deep of a roster as you'll find in the league. When you talk about Jared McCain coming off the bench as a six man of the year candidate, now going to be thrust into a larger role without Jalen Williams and then AJ Mitchell.

There are teams that absolutely, if they lose these two guys, Cason Wallace and J Dub, their seasons are devastated. Not the Oklahoma City Thunder. I think that's a testament to Shay and the development of this coaching staff and the organization of all the teams in the league to be able to sustain these types of blows and move forward. It's OKC, just an incredible roster.

Kevin O'Connor (3:38)

AJ Mitchell last night, if you're a Thunder fan and you obviously it's, you know, Phoenix is not a contender, but AJ Mitchell was just unbelievable in the game, just downhill, relentless attacking, finishing with his strong hand, finishing with his off hand, these tough contested layups. He hit some pull ups, made some gorgeous passes as well. And we know AJ Mitchell is capable of this with his year to year improvement from his rookie year where he got a taste of him. When the Thunder won the title last year with J-Dev missing a lot of time, AJ steps up big time, averages 16 points per game. He's very productive last year, very important and a critical loss. When he was out, people talk about J-Dev missing time in the playoffs. Once AJ Mitchell went out, that's when things were really trouble for the Thunder. But this year, a big, big opportunity for him. And Grant Lifman from NBC Sports, I had him on my final season preview podcast the Monday before the season opener. And he said, I think by the end of the year, people are saying AJ Mitchell is a future All-Star.