​Catching the ball at the top of the key, Josh Dix drained an outside jumper as part of a late third-quarter burst that highlighted his performance. It was the first time this Summer League that the sharpshooter truly delivered, and given the circumstances, it was exactly the kind of production you’d want from one of the Thunder’s two-way players. Oklahoma City Thunder finished their Salt Lake City stint with a 103-69 Summer League defeat to the Utah Jazz. With both teams resting their top players, the game offered a chance for the two-way players to showcase their skills.
Dix finished with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting, adding four rebounds, two assists, and a single block. He connected on four of seven attempts from three-point range but went 0-for-1 from the free-throw line. His night also included a block, underscoring his active presence on the floor.
It was somewhat surprising that the Thunder added Dix to a two-way contract so soon after the 2026 NBA draft ended, but his jump shot evidently earned the opportunity. That same shooting ability had helped him gain recognition at Iowa and Creighton, where he made a name for himself as a scorer who could stretch the floor. Through two Summer League starts, however, he had largely been a quiet presence, a situation partly on him and partly on the Thunder’s framework, as OKC didn’t have many reliable playmakers to feed him kick-out passes.
With increased chances, Dix began to shine in Utah, tallying 10 points after halftime and showcasing range with several outside jumpers. Most of his baskets came off kick-out passes, as the Thunder looked to get him into an offensive rhythm. He also nailed a baseline jumper, demonstrating versatility as a shooter instead of merely a catch-and-shoot threat.
“I was a little aggressive tonight, trying to find my spots with guys out,” Dix said. “My teammates, AP, Steven, and Bryce, they all put me in good spots where I didn’t have to do much except shoot.”
If you want to be a true sharpshooter, the path is simple: you have to take shots and make them. Dix hadn’t piled up a flurry of attempts in his first two games, but this outing showed what he’s capable of when given more opportunities. With Payton Sandfort hovering as competition for the two-way spot, Dix’s performance carried extra weight, especially as he seeks to cement his role. Keeping this momentum going will be essential as the Thunder head to Las Vegas.
“It’s been pretty crazy and fast-paced, for sure,” Dix said. “But I’ve got a lot of good people around me. The Thunder have a lot of great people in the organization, and there are a lot of people I can learn from and lean on, which has made it easy.”
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire, highlighting Josh Dix’s readiness for opportunities as he joined the OKC Thunder on a two-way deal.