I normally don't consider transfers in this "Dukies" in the NBA thread, but
this Semi Ojeleye factoid was too interesting to pass up:
Ojeleye just set a new high-water mark for at least the last 30 years by
playing the most minutes without registering a blocked shot by a player 6'6" or taller.
While he is a fairly stout defender (and unquestionably a stout human being at 6'6" 240 lb), Ojeleye played 950 minutes over 56 regular season games and did not register a single blocked shot.
The only other players who played meaningful minutes without blocking a shot are much smaller guards who played way fewer minutes than Ojeleye--Tyler Johnson (6'3", 684 minutes), Brandon Goodwin (6'0", 620 minutes), Ryan Arcidiacono (6'3", 450 minutes) and Langston Galloway (6'1", 438 minutes)
And here are some players ahead of the 26-year old, 6'6" Ojeleye on the blocked shots list this year:
- Facundo Campazzo (5'10", 30 years old) - 14 blocked shots
- Stephen Curry (6'3", 33 years old) - 8 blocked shots
- Jordan McLaughling (5'11", 25 years old) - 6 blocked shots
- Patty Mills (6'1", 32 years old) - 3 blocked shots
- D.J. Augustin (5'11", 33 years old) - 1 blocked shot
In the last 30 years, the next closest mark from a player 6'6" or taller was Michael Redd in 2012, who played 770 minutes in his final, injury-riddled season.
Evidently the all-time record (since blocks became a recorded stat in 1974) belongs to former Cavs/Timberwolves/Wizards coach Randy Wittman, who played 1071 minutes in 1984 without blocking a single shot.