The Oklahoma City Thunder are deep into the grind of the NBA season, and right now, they’re doing it the hard way - short-handed and scrappy. Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, OKC was down a long list of key contributors: Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, and both Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic, the latter two already ruled out for the season. Then, to pile on, Ajay Mitchell exited late in the third quarter with a right hip contusion.
That’s not just a depleted rotation - that’s a full-blown injury crisis.
But in true Thunder fashion, they didn’t flinch. Instead, they turned to the depth of their bench and pulled out another convincing win. And in doing so, one adjustment from head coach Mark Daigneault stood out: giving Branden Carlson meaningful minutes.
Carlson Steps Up When the Thunder Need It Most
Carlson isn’t a household name. He’s not even a regular in the Thunder’s rotation - at least, not yet. But with the frontcourt thinned out, he stepped in and made the kind of impact that could earn him a longer look while OKC waits on reinforcements.
Carlson’s NBA journey has been anything but linear. He broke into the league last season on a 10-day contract and has spent most of his time on the fringes of the roster.
In his rookie year, he appeared in just 32 games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.7 boards in under eight minutes per outing. He shot a respectable 44.3% from the field, but never carved out a consistent role.
This season, though, there have been flashes - and Wednesday night was one of them.
After logging four straight DNPs, Carlson was called into action against Milwaukee. He responded with nine points, six rebounds, and an assist in just over 16 minutes of play.
He shot 4-of-8 from the floor, and more importantly, the Thunder were +9 in his minutes. That’s the kind of quiet, efficient production that coaches love - especially when it comes from a player deep in the rotation.
Holding Down the Fort in the Paint
Let’s be clear: Carlson’s not Hartenstein, and he’s not Jaylin Williams either. He’s not going to dominate the glass or anchor the defense.
But right now, the Thunder don’t need dominance - they need competence. And Carlson has shown he can provide that.
Since Hartenstein went down in late December, OKC has slipped to 28th in the league in rebounding percentage. That’s a glaring issue for a team that thrives on controlling tempo and limiting second-chance points.
Losing Jaylin Williams only made things worse. But Carlson, in limited action, has held his own.
His 12.9% rebound percentage this season isn’t far off from Williams’ 14.1%, and that’s a solid number for a guy who’s barely seen regular floor time.
He’s not going to change the Thunder’s identity, but he can help stabilize things - and right now, that’s exactly what they need.
The Clock is Ticking on Carlson’s Two-Way Deal
There’s also a roster wrinkle to keep in mind. Carlson is on a two-way contract, and he’s got 19 games left before the Thunder have to make a decision: convert him to a standard deal or let the clock run out. That gives OKC some flexibility, but it also puts a spotlight on every minute he plays moving forward.
If he continues to contribute like he did against Milwaukee - with energy, efficiency, and a willingness to do the dirty work - it’ll be tough for the front office to ignore.
Looking Ahead
Oklahoma City has been one of the league’s most resilient teams this season, and that’s not by accident. They’ve built a culture of next-man-up mentality, and Wednesday night was another example of that ethos in action. With key players sidelined, the Thunder didn’t just survive - they thrived.
And Branden Carlson? He may not be the long-term answer in the frontcourt, but right now, he’s proving he can be part of the solution.
Until Hartenstein and Williams return, expect Carlson to keep getting opportunities. And if he keeps capitalizing on them, this injury stretch might just be the break he’s been waiting for.