NBA Lockout: 5 Oklahoma City Thunder Players That Will Suffer

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a young team with some new faces that need as much practice and game time together that they can get.

The Thunder are not an experienced team that has played with each other for many years, so not being with each other on the practice court during the lockout is hurting them.

Let's look at five players on OKC that will suffer from a prolonged NBA lockout.

Kendrick Perkins

When Kendrick Perkins came to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trading deadline last season he was unable to be the defensive force he was with the Celtics since entering the NBA.

Perkins needs to be on the court with his teammates so he can develop some chemistry with them and learn the team's systems better.

Perkins was benched in favor of Nick Collison for much of the playoffs last season.

Russell Westbrook

Point guard Russell Westbrook had an attitude problem during the playoffs and he was criticized—fairly and unfairly—for being a bit of a ball hog.

Westbrook needs some more maturity, and with the lockout going on he will not get the coaching and development that he needs.

His outside shooting also needs to get better. You can practice all you want in a gym, but hitting shots during games is the best practice.

James Harden

James Harden became a good playmaker in the playoffs last season and even excelled in a point guard role.

Harden was quite inconsistent last season for the Thunder, and needs all the game time he can get to become a more dependable player.

Harden has great potential and talent, and with the NBA lockout going on for a long time he won't be able to develop his skills against NBA talent. 

Luckily for Harden, he has played a lot of basketball with teammate Kevin Durant this summer and into the fall.

Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson is the talented shooting guard the OKC Thunder drafted from Boston College in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Jackson, like all rookies, will really suffer during the lockout because he won't be able to develop a good chemistry with his new teammates and learn the plays and systems the Thunder use.

He also won't be able to adjust to the pro game and really see how different and more demanding it is than the college game.

Jackson is a good shooter and is a quality ball handler. He will really help the Thunder, but not having a full training camp will make the adjustment period from college to the NBA much more difficult. 

Cole Aldrich

Cole Aldrich has been a disappointment for the OKC Thunder since arriving to the NBA from Kansas. Aldrich has not been a power forward or center the Thunder can depend on, and his good offensive talents has not been seen thus far.

Aldrich suffers from a prolonged NBA lockout because he needs all the coaching he can get to help him develop his talent. He needs to play in as many games as possible to prove he deserves an increased role on the team.

Aldrich is another young player who will lose a valuable year of experience if the lockout wipes out the season.