Most teams don’t. The problem is that he’s only played 52 games since being drafted in 2014, due to a combination of injuries, the Thunder’s abundance of big men and the aforementioned “personal matter”.
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The punishment is in addition to the five-game suspension McGary received in July for a similar infraction.
“I clearly made a mistake, and for that, I apologize to the organization, my teammates, and our fans”, he said in the statement.
It’s important to note that McGary’s latest suspension is not because he failed another drug test, but rather a failure to live up to procedural guidelines outlined in the program.
Thunder forward Josh Huestis on the Thunder without Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, the excitement surrounding the returning players and newcomers: “Of course we’re going to miss those guys on and off the court, (but) it is”. Throw in McGary’s 15-game ban and the greater character concerns that come with it, and it’s probably safe to close the book on his tenure in Oklahoma City.
Yahoo Sports is reporting that Mitch McGary has received a second suspension for the 2016-2017 season. Last season, McGary bounced between the Thunder and the NBA Development League, playing limited minutes in 20 NBA games. His future in the National Basketball Association is uncertain as well, as other teams are well aware of his inability to maintain a lifestyle that’ll allow him to play in the league.
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Fred Katz is the Thunder beat writer for the Norman Transcript and CNHI Oklahoma as well as the host of the Locked on Thunder podcast.
