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Former Pitt forward/center Talib Zanna continues to work hard in pursuit of an NBA contract. Recently, he was signed to a one-year deal by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He'll again get the opportunity to play alongside former Pitt center, Steven Adams.
The contract is a non-guaranteed one so it's not written in stone that Zanna will be playing in the NBA this year. However, what it does is keep him in the eyes of the coaches and also gets him some quality preseason practice time with the club.
Zanna didn't get to play in the NBA last season, but did have an impressive year as an undrafted free agent. He performed well in NBA workouts and then signed on the with the 76ers in the summer league. After that, he briefly joined the Thunder before playing well in for their D-League affiliate team, averaging nearly 15 points and 15 rebounds in his first couple of games. He continued well and made the D-League All-Star team as a rookie, while averaging a double double (13.3 points and 11 rebounds per game).
Earlier this year, Zanna also competed in the summer leagues for both the Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Again, there's no guarantee that Zanna will stick in the NBA this time. But after a strong D-League campaign last year, he was able to get his feet wet and should be more polished this time around. Plus, getting experience in another training camp really will be a good benchmark for his abilities to see where he stacks up.
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