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Mickaël Gelabale

Gelabale had found it difficult to break into a crowded Sonics wing rotation, playing just 199 minutes over 24 games through the All-Star break. Since Thursday, however, he has gotten the opportunity to back up Kevin Durant at shooting guard and quickly flashed the skills that intrigued the Sonics. On Friday, Gelabale played the entire fourth quarter as the Sonics defeated Portland, scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. On Sunday, Gelabale led the Sonics in scoring against the L.A. Lakers, putting up a career-high 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting and adding eight rebounds.

"You can also see the progression. I think he's played a little bit better each night." Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty

Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo said Monday he has been, "very impressed. You can also see the progression. I think he's played a little bit better each night. Not that he didn't play well the second night, but I thought he was even better last night."

Gelabale was solid much of his rookie season in Seattle, stepping in to start 14 games when veteran wings Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis missed time due to injuries. As a starter, Gelabale held his own, averaging 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds and shooting 48.9% from the field. At times, however, Gelabale was held back by his relative passivity on offense. Gelabale has been markedly more aggressive in his recent surge.

That change could have something to do with Gelabale's six-game stint in the NBA Development League earlier this month. Playing for the Idaho Stampede, Gelabale was asked to be a go-to scorer and averaged 17.8 points per game.

"When I played with the Idaho Stampede, I played a lot of minutes and my teammates passed me the ball," said Gelabale. "The coach asked me to take my responsibility, so now I feel good."

Gelabale has also made strides in his long-range shooting, adjusting to the longer NBA three-point line. He had just two three-pointers through February of his rookie season before making nine in March and April. Already, Gelabale has eight three-pointers this season in just 15 attempts, an impressive 53.3% clip, albeit in a small sample size.

"My first year the line was so far," Gelabale said. "I remember in one game when I shot three, my ball didn't touch the rim. When I came in and practiced, I shot well. In a game, I couldn't make one. I am working on my three. Now I think I can make some threes."

The Sonics will watch Gelabale intently the remainder of the season to see what else he can potentially add to his game. At age 24, in his second season in the NBA after starring in Euroleague play, Gelabale has an important opportunity to define his future in the league. The Sonics will help that process by giving him legitimate rotation minutes the remainder of the way, including potentially the opportunity to start and finish games.

"What he is right now is still a young player, not from the United States, who did well in his minutes before when he was here," said Carlesimo. "Didn't get a real good run most of this year; now he's getting a chance and it looks like he's taking advantage of it. He could get himself anywhere into the mix.

"This whole next however many games we have left will be very good for Gelly. It will be very good for us too going forward, figuring it out. It's going to be very good to get a chance to look at him."

SONICS BEAT

The Sonics are facing a tough opponent: illness. Check out the Sonics Beat blog for more on which players might not be available for Tuesday's game in Golden State.

What is Gelabale? Is he a slasher, a shooter, a defender?

"I think he's all of the above," Carlesimo said.

"I think he's still defining what he can do also. Can he shoot? Yeah. He's a good shooter. But before you're ready to say that, he's got to shoot for a half of year or a year. He's got to do it and be successful doing it.

"I think the rest of the season is going to be very telling for Gelly and Jo (Petro) going forward. And early returns are it's going to be positively telling, so that's good."

Gelabale has had some extra motivation recently, with his girlfriend and his cousin, along with his cousin's girlfriend, joining him in Seattle from his native Guadeloupe in January.

"Any time I don't play, my cousin in France, he calls me and says, 'Why don't you play?'" Gelabale explained. "Now he's here and he saw me play - I need to play good."

So far, since getting a chance, Gelabale has done exactly that.