Oklahoma City Thunder Report Card: Early Grades for All the Team's Key Players

The Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten off to a great start in this abbreviated NBA season. Under the leadership of Kevin Durant, the Thunder have gotten off to an 8-2 start.

Despite having a great player like Durant on the team, the early season effort has been a team oriented one, with many guys stepping up and contributing.

Here are grades for how each key Thunder player has done so far in this young season.

Kevin Durant

Grade: B+

Kevin Durant has done a very good job at leading him team, including hitting a buzzer-beater to beat the Dallas Mavericks early in the season. He's playing at an elite level, but there are some areas of his game that need to improve.

Durant scoring has gone down by a point per game, but that's probably indicative of the fact that he's sat out more this season. His rebounds and free throw percentage have also taken a small dip, which are both things that he needs to correct.

He is shooting 49 percent from the field, and his assists are up by nearly one per game, which helps.

Russell Westbrook

Grade: C

Russell Westbrook has had a shaky start to the season. Virtually all of his stats per game are down this season. He's also appeared to struggle at times running the offense, which is disappointing considering that that was what many hoped he'd improve at this season.

Most of his averages are a bit skewed downward since, like Kevin Durant, he has sat out significant time during blowouts. However, the fact that his free throw, field goal and three-point shooting percentages have all gone down isn't a good sign.

James Harden

Grade: A

James Harden has performed splendidly so far this season. He's fit perfectly into his third scorer/sixth man role, leading the second unit and providing a spark to the first team when he comes in the game.

He's using his increased playing time wisely, averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Each of those is an increase over last season.

He's also shooting better than last season from everywhere on the court. The third year shooting guard is shooting 48 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range and 89 percent from the free throw line.

Harden is playing better than anyone else on this team and appears to be a lock for Sixth Man of the Year.

Serge Ibaka

Grade: C+

Serge Ibaka's season so far has had mixed results. He's been inconsistent as far as his point and rebound totals, with just two double-digit scoring games and no double-digit rebound games.

He is shooting 53 percent from the field, which is what he's shot for his entire career. He's also averaging 2.2 blocks per game, which is something that is now widely expected of him.

Ibaka has played decently, but he needs to get more consistent and show up bigger in games.

Kendrick Perkins

Grade: B-

Kendrick Perkins has looked a lot better this season than last season. He's only averaging five points and five rebounds per game, but he's obviously much quicker on his feet and much healthier.

However, that needs to translate into a more tangible effect on the court. Perkins doesn't get many shots, so he'll never be a big scorer. That part is fine, but he needs to be a more active rebounder.

He's shown his old defensive prowess already, frustrating guys like Dwight Howard and Darko Milicic. He's not there yet but appears to be on his way to being a better Perk.

Thabo Sefolosha

Grade: B

Thabo Sefolosha has a difficult task as a player. He is expected to continue to improve as his minutes and shots go down. He seems to be doing that.

The shooting guard's points, rebounds and assists per game are near career lows, yet his three-point (54 percent) and free throw (91 percent) shooting percentages are at career highs.

Sefolosha is a role player, but he is an important one. He's still one of the best defensive wing men in the game, and he'll continue to start to give the Thunder that defensive edge.

Nick Collison

Grade: A

I'd like to introduce you to the most underrated player in the NBA, Nick Collison.

Collison is averaging six points and four rebounds in just 20 minutes per game. He's also shooting 71 percent from the field. However, this guy's biggest pluses don't show up in the stat column.

Collison sets amazing screens, takes charges and plays very smart defense and offense. He's a veteran guy who is part of the glue that keeps the team together.

Daequan Cook

Grade: B

Daequan Cook is another undervalued guy from the Thunder bench. Unlike Nick Collison, who does a bit of everything, Cook is really on the floor to do just one thing: shoot.

Since he came to the Thunder, Cook has become one of the best three-point specialists in the NBA. This season, he's averaging the best three-point percentage of his career and has been a valuable contributor.

Reggie Jackson

Grade: B

I never would have thought that Reggie Jackson would be included on this list. However, after Eric Maynor's season was ended by a torn ACL, Jackson is now the second-string point guard. He's done a good job so far for a rookie.

In his first game in his new role, Jackson scored 11 points and had four assists, which are solid numbers for a backup point guard.

It's still very early to determine how Jackson will do, but he's definitely on the right track.