Rating Thunder’s prime 50 gamers in OKC franchise historical past: Nos. 50-41

The gained its final season.

It is a long-awaited achievement for the franchise, which arrived in Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008 after it moved from Seattle. And whereas final season’s OKC gamers have been those who lastly secured the title, loads of others have left their very own mark on Thunder basketball all through the years.

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A complete of 160 gamers have suited up for OKC throughout the franchise’s 17 seasons of existence, , and we will rank the highest 50.

Earlier than we start, it is essential to notice that this listing solely displays time spent with OKC. And whereas there is no actual system to find out these rankings, elements akin to statistics, impression and staff success have been thought-about when finalizing the order.

This listing will likely be launched by way of a five-part, weekly collection. Now, let’s get began with gamers 50-41:

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Prime 50 OKC Thunder gamers of all time: Nos. 50-41

Stats encompass factors (PTS), rebounds (REB), assists (AST), blocks (BLK), subject purpose share (FG), 3-point field-goal share (3FG) and the place a participant ranks in win shares (WS) all through franchise historical past.

Honorable mentions

There are quite a few multi-year gamers who may’ve cracked the highest 50 however did not on account of both underwhelming stats or an absence of staff success. That group consists of men akin to Theo Maledon, Raymond Felton, Patrick Patterson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Abdel Nader.

There have been additionally quite a few gamers who may’ve made the lower had they stayed in OKC for a couple of season. That group consists of men akin to Domantas Sabonis, Earl Watson, Desmond Mason, Caron Butler, Doug McDermott and Chris Wilcox.

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Thunder averages: 14.2 PTS, 6.7 REB, 3.4 AST, 0.9 BLK, 45% FG, 36.8% 3FG, 1.6 WS (59th)

Video games performed: 28 (0 playoff video games)

Al Horford simply has the fewest video games performed in a Thunder jersey out of everybody on this top-50 listing. He solely suited up for 28 video games throughout the 2020-21 season earlier than he was shut down.

However one of many elements for these rankings is impression, which Horford prided himself in. The veteran massive man agreed to be shut down so OKC may deal with creating its youth, and he served as a mentor for guys akin to and . His presence was additionally an enormous assist for first-year head coach .

“Each first-year NBA head coach must be as fortunate as I used to be to have Al Horford on their staff,” . “Stud skilled and particular person.”

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Let’s not neglect what Horford did on the ground both. After a failed one-year stint with the , he rejuvenated his profession with OKC and simply accomplished his 18th season at age 39. Whereas Horford’s time with the Thunder was temporary, it was essential to a franchise that was in the midst of a transition interval following the period.

Thunder averages: 7.5 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2 AST, 0.8 BLK, 38.7% FG, 29.9% 3FG, -0.7 WS (159th)

Video games performed: 150 (0 playoff video games)

OKC took a swing on Aleksej Pokusevski with the seventeenth choose within the 2020 NBA Draft. These have been the times of unicorn chasing within the league, and there have been glimpses of magic when watching the 7-foot ahead push the ball up the ground and drop dimes.

Sadly, that wore off all through Pokusevski’s two and a half years with the Thunder. He struggled to remain on the ground on account of numerous accidents and seemed like an unpolished prospect when he did go well with up.

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Pokusevski’s time with OKC resulted in February 2024 when he was waived. However with stable statistics, respectable longevity and a few impression as an entertaining fan favourite, he narrowly makes the lower.

Aleksej Pokusevski (17) places up a shot over Washington’s Robin Lopez (15) in 2021. Pokusevski was OKC’s seventeenth general choose in 2020 and spent almost three years with the group.

Thunder averages: 8.6 PTS, 2.1 REB, 2.8 AST, 0.6 STL, 41% FG, 35.3% 3FG, 1.8 WS (fifty fifth)

Video games performed: 81 (0 playoff video games)

After spending his rookie season with the , Ty Jerome was traded to OKC main as much as the 2020-21 season.

The 6-foot-5 guard confirmed some potential as a 3-point specialist and a prepared defender. However he handled quite a few accidents all through his two seasons with the Thunder and in addition went chilly from deep throughout the 2021-22 marketing campaign.

Happily for Jerome, . He completed third within the race for Sixth Man of the 12 months final season with the , and he is now anticipated to be a precious position participant for the . Sadly, his manufacturing with the Thunder is simply ok to return in at No. 48.

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Extra:

Thunder averages: 6.9 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1 AST, 0.7 STL, 46.2% FG, 26.2% 3FG, 2.2 WS (54th)

Video games performed: 129 (3 playoff video games)

OKC has developed quite a few gamers who have been chosen within the second spherical. Simply have a look at , and .

The hope was that Hamidou Diallo would even be a kind of guys. He was a consensus five-star prospect out of highschool who went forty fifth general within the 2018 draft.

Diallo showcased elite athleticism throughout his time with the Thunder and even turned the franchise’s first-ever participant to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2019. He additionally averaged 11.9 factors and 5.2 rebounds throughout the 2020-21 season, which is among the higher stat traces on this vary, however he was traded to the on the deadline.

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Thunder averages: 8.5 PTS, 2.5 REB, 1.7 AST, 0.6 STL, 39.7% FG, 34.1% 3FG, 0.8 WS (77th)

Video games performed: 140 (0 playoff video games)

OKC’s gamers nonetheless present like to Tre Mann, and he nonetheless exhibits love again. regardless of being a member of the .

There are seemingly no exhausting emotions between the Thunder and Mann, who was merely the odd man out. After posting promising averages of 10.4 factors and a pair of.9 rebounds as a rookie in 2021-22, his position regularly declined as OKC drafted different guards akin to and .

Mann was dealt on the 2023-24 deadline to Charlotte, the place he nonetheless resides. And whereas he did not get to blossom with OKC, he does get the forty sixth spot on this listing.

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Thunder averages: 9.2 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.7 BLK, 41% FG, 31% 3FG, 2.7 WS (forty ninth)

Video games performed: 221 (7 playoff video games)

If you have not observed a theme but for the 50-41 vary of this listing, it largely consists of younger gamers who confirmed promise however weren’t in a position to put all of it along with OKC.

Darius Bazley is actually a kind of guys. He was a full-time starter as a sophomore in 2020-21 with career-high averages of 13.7 factors and seven.2 rebounds, however he ultimately fell down the rotation and out of the league.

After spending final season with the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation’s Guangdong Southern Tigers, . Here is to hoping for one of the best for the previous Thunder ahead, who ranks forty fifth on this listing.

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Extra:

Thunder averages: 4.8 PTS, 1.4 REB, 0.7 AST, 0.5 STL, 40.6% FG, 33.7% 3FG, 4.6 WS (thirty sixth)

Video games performed: 191 (12 playoff video games)

Born in Tulsa, Terrance Ferguson had a full-circle second when he was chosen by OKC with the twenty first general choose within the 2017 draft.

After coming off the bench as a rookie, Ferguson turned a full-time starter in 2018-19 whereas missed time. He averaged profession highs of 6.9 factors and 1.9 rebounds whereas showcasing sturdy athleticism and defensive versatility.

Ferguson additionally appeared in 12 playoff video games, which is probably the most of any participant on this vary, and he ranks thirty sixth in franchise historical past in win shares (4.6). His tough offense prevented him from sticking, however his résumé is sweet sufficient to earn the forty fourth spot.

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Thunder averages: 9.1 PTS, 5.1 REB, 1.6 AST, 0.8 STL, 49.5% FG, 36.5% 3FG, 4.1 WS (Thirty seventh)

Video games performed: 109 (0 playoff video games)

Isaiah Roby is one other younger participant who confirmed some flashes throughout his temporary time with OKC.

After spending his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, Roby was traded to OKC. He later averaged 10.1 factors and 4.8 rebounds in 2021-22, which was his third and last season with the Thunder.

Roby now performs for Ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany, and he nonetheless helps OKC. . Whereas his days in a Thunder jersey are over, Roby holds the forty third spot with stable stats and the Thirty seventh-most win shares (4.1) in franchise historical past.

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Thunder averages: 7 PTS, 2.1 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.5 STL, 42.2% FG, 34.8% 3FG, 5.1 WS (thirty fourth)

Video games performed: 148 (11 playoff video games)

Jeremy Lamb was one of many items OKC acquired when it traded to Houston in 2012.

Lamb did not present Harden-like manufacturing off the bench. However he did common a good 8.5 factors and a pair of.4 rebounds on 35.6% taking pictures from deep as a 21-year-old sophomore in 2013-14.

Lamb additionally performed probably the most significant minutes out of anybody on this vary throughout OKC’s 2014 Western Convention finals run, however he fell out of the rotation the next season. Although he ended up getting traded to Charlotte, the place younger Thunder gamers appear to at all times find yourself looking for extra alternatives, he was productive sufficient throughout his three seasons with OKC to land at No. 42.

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Thunder averages: 5.3 PTS, 1.4 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 38.7% FG, 36.8% 3FG, 5 WS (thirty fifth)

Video games performed: 174 (11 playoff video games)

After profitable a 2014 Spanish League championship and the 2016 EuroLeague Rising Star award with FC Barcelona, Alex Abrines signed with OKC in July 2016 as a 22-year-old guard.

Abrines spent three seasons with the Thunder and held a constant position off the bench. He additionally helped OKC attain the playoffs twice and appeared in 11 postseason video games.

Abrines in all probability may’ve carved out an extended NBA profession as a 3-point shooter off the bench, however he and the Thunder mutually determined to half methods in February 2019 on account of private causes. Abrines then returned to FC Barcelona, the place he gained one other two Spanish League titles (2021 and 2023). .

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