When the Oklahoma City Thunder inked a multi-year deal with guard Isaiah Joe just days prior to the beginning of the 2022-23 NBA season, it raised quite a few eyebrows around the league. The Philadephia 76ers waived him after a disappointing first two seasons in the league. However, Joe has proven this season that he was worth taking a chance on. He has been an elite shooter for the Thunder and has broken into the everyday rotation. Just how much improvement has Joe made this year?

He struggled to crack the rotation for Philly, playing just nine and eleven minutes per game his first two seasons. This continued for the start of his Thunder tenure, but his minutes per game have increased dramatically every month. In January, he played a career-high 20.6 minutes per game and is averaging season-highs in points (11.3), rebounds (3.0), and assists (1.2). Why has his playing time increased so much? Because Joe has turned himself into an elite shooter. He shot roughly 35 percent from both the field and beyond the arc as a 76er. This year, he’s shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three.

Joe has provided much-needed spacing for an OKC team that is middle-of-the-pack in three-point efficiency. Joe’s shooting presence provides Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more room for his All-NBA driving ability. The Thunder have a +10.2 Offensive rating differential when Isaiah Joe is on the court compared to when he’s off of it. That’s an even higher difference than when Gilgeous-Alexander comes off of the court. This isn’t to say he’s better than Shai, but it does prove the extent that his shooting helps the team. Joe is a crucial piece of this offense, something which nobody predicted before the season started.

Isaiah Joe’s three-year contract is not set in stone. It does not guarantee the 2023-24 season, and the 2024-25 season comes with a team option. However, with Joe’s level of play this season, he will almost certainly play out the length of his contract. Thunder GM Sam Presti has a steal with Joe. Even if he doesn’t continue to improve, every team would love to have an elite shooter on a cheap contract. This season, Joe revived his career and become an important player for the Thunder to keep around when they contend in the future.

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