THE Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder is probably the most lately moved NBA franchise, which moved from Seattle in 2008. (The Brooklyn Nets moved from New Jersey in 2012, however they solely moved 14 miles.) The heritage of the Seattle Supersonics dates again to the Sixties, and the franchise claims a NBA title.
The Thunder has been under this objective since their transfer to OKC, however they’ve had outstanding abilities and really thrilling groups within the final 15 seasons. Allow us to see a few of the greatest Thunder gamers since 2008 and let’s go to the highest 10.
10. Jeff Inexperienced
Jeff Inexperienced was drafted by the Celtics of Boston with the fifth alternative of the 2007 draft and exchanged the Supersonics of Seattle within the commerce of Ray Allen. Inexperienced did the primary All-Rookie staff of the NBA in its solely season with the Sonics. In complete, he performed three and a half seasons as a member of the Thunder / Sonics. He collected a mean of 16.5 factors and seven rebounds in his most efficient season.
9. Chris Paul
Chris Paul solely performed a season for the Thunder, however the staff has massively exceeded expectations, and he got here to the bottom level of the Thunder within the historical past of OKC. After the 2019 qualifiers, Paul George requested for a enterprise from the Los Angeles Clippers, which the staff granted.
Then the entrance workplace determined that it was time to confess that the Russell Westbrook The period needed to finish, they usually exchanged him on the Houston Rockets in change for Paul, who gave the impression to be a decline participant.
The Thunder has gone from potential contenders with Westbrook and George to take a look at a reconstruction within the face, to the nice dismay of Oklahoma Metropolis followers. Paul was 34 years previous on the time and clearly had little interest in being a part of a reconstruction. However relatively than sulking to be put apart James Harden And Houston’s Rockets, Paul gave the Thunder all he had.
Paul collected on common 18 factors and seven assists, main a staff of younger Thunder on the fifth seeded of the Western Convention. They lastly misplaced in 7 video games towards Westbrook, Harden and the Rockets within the first spherical of the NBA 2020 qualifiers. Though his mandate was brief and he gained no tools at OKC, Paul cracks the highest 10.
8. Paul George
After the emblematic MVP yr of Russell Westbrook, the Thunder added Paul George by way of commerce with the Indiana Pacers earlier than the 2017-18 season. Along with the signature of Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder had nice expectations to satisfy the Western Convention.
George ended up enjoying two seasons with the Thunder, though his go to to Oklahoma Metropolis was definitely a disappointment. The Thunder misplaced within the first spherical within the two seizure stations, though George had the perfect yr of his profession in 2018-2019, ending third within the MVP vote.
George made two groups of stars, two All-NBA groups and a number of first all-defensive staff earlier than his job with the Clippers. He additionally directed the league in interception in 2019.
7. Nick Collison
Up to now, Nick Collison is the one participant to have his quantity withdraw by the Thunder. He spent your entire 14 -year -old profession with Sonics and Thunder.
Though Collison has by no means been on common two -digit factors and has by no means been an on a regular basis starter, he was a key ingredient within the group’s tradition. When the Thunder reached the NBA remaining in 2012, Collison was an vital veteran presence for the younger Russell Westbrook Star trio, James Harden and Kevin throughoutwho had been all solely 22 or 23 years previous.
Collison remained concerned within the staff after his retirement, and he’s now engaged on the entrance workplace.
6. Steven Adams
Steven Adams has been one of the vital coherent presence in Thunder within the final decade. After Oklahoma Metropolis drafted Adams in 2013, he performed seven seasons for the Thunder and performed greater than 70 video games in all one.
He was a every day starter of the staff and picked up on common about 10 factors and eight assists out of 59% capturing in simply 27 minutes per match throughout his profession as Thunder.
He was Russell Westbrook’s most dependable teammate throughout his MVP marketing campaign, and when the Thunder exchanged him, he was the final piece of this Thunder basketball period to go away the staff.
5. James Harden
The time of James Harden to Oklahoma Metropolis will eternally be one of many best “What-Iifs” within the historical past of the NBA. With Westbrook and Durant, the Thunder made the ultimate of the third season of Harden within the League in 2012.
Regardless of his youth and his function on the bench, Harden collected on common 17 factors and pulled 39% within the territory at three factors, and performed a necessary function within the staff closing coaching. He gained the NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months Award for his efforts.
The Thunder was merely overwhelmed by the trio of Miami Warmth by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
With a day of pay sooner or later, the Entrance Workplace of the Thunder has determined to debate harden in direction of the Rockets relatively than writing an enormous contract, a choice that the franchise may at all times remorse. The staff was nonetheless very robust after Harden’s departure, however the Thunder was by no means returned to this stage.
Harden has immediately change into an All-Star and top-of-the-line NBA gamers. He might not have raised at this similar stage of manufacturing if he had stayed in OKC with Westbrook and through, however we’ll by no means know what this trio may have been succesful over time collectively. The three gamers gained MVP awards throughout their profession.
Oklahoma Metropolis Connection InformationThe article continues under
4. Serge Ibaka
Serge Ibaka performed for the Thunder for his first seven seasons of the NBA. Throughout the season, the staff went to the NBA remaining, it has a mean of three.7 blocks per recreation. He’s the chief of all time of the franchise on this statistic with 1,300 refusals.
He made three first all-nba groups in Oklahoma Metropolis and led the league in blocks twice. He additionally completed the primary three of the defensive participant of the yr to vote twice.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the current and the way forward for thunder. He arrived in OKC as a part of Paul George’s commerce after his recruit season, and he has his greatest season in seventh yr, sixth in OKC. Really, Gilgeous-Alexander is favored to win the NBA MVP For this season. He leads the NBA with 32.9 factors per match and on common 6.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 interceptions.
In his thunder profession, he has a mean of 27.3 factors, 5.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 interceptions per recreation. He’s a triple All-Star and twice the primary All-NBA staff. In 2023-24, he completed distant in second place in Nikola Jokic of Denver Nuggets for MVP whereas the Thunder completed with the perfect document within the West and gained his first Playoff sequence since 2016.
SGA is simply in his 26 -year season, so he ought to have a number of years with the Thunder to climb greater on this checklist.
2. Kevin throughout
Kevin Durant is the greatest Basketball participant to place a thunder or sonics jersey. He was drafted in Seattle in 2007 and continued to have a wonderful profession with the Thunder. Nevertheless, His disagreeable exodus Oklahoma Metropolis has embittered her heritage within the circles of thunder, and lots of have by no means forgiven him.
Throughout the finals of the western 2016 convention, throughout and the Thunder had been up 3-1 on the Golden State Warriors, who had simply gained a 73-game NBA document behind the MVP Driving Stephen Curry. The Warriors would win three consecutive video games and misplaced LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers within the NBA remaining, and what occurred and eternally modified the course of NBA historical past.
Throughout left the Thunder in a free company with out warning and signed with the Warriors, creating energy not like the League. This determination was thought-about weak by many followers and former gamers, and worse was the way in which he suspended his pal and teammate Russell Westbrook to dry.
That is the explanation why throughout will not be n ° 1 on this checklist, however his profession on the Thunder was spectacular anyway. He gained the 2014 MVP Prize and 4 rating titles.
Throughout was a 7x all-star participant and 6x all-nba and even joined the unique membership 50-40-90 in 2013. He was the engine of the rise of the relevance of Thunder within the NBA, and the staff might not have succeeded in Oklahoma Metropolis with out him.
1. Russell Westbrook
The affect of Russell Westbrook on the Thunder group can’t be overestimated. His heritage will likely be outlined by his tenacious effort and the depth he has introduced to every possession on the basketball courtroom.
He left the whole lot there in each match he performed for Oklahoma Metropolis, wins or dropping, and that earned him the last word respect for Thunder followers. He by no means cheated on the sport, his staff, his metropolis or himself.
Westbrook was by no means capable of carry this elusive championship house to the home, however he did virtually the whole lot else for his frankness with everlasting loyalty for 11 seasons.
Westbrook was the 2017 MVP NBA, an 8x All-Star choice, 8x all-NBA, 2x MVP of All-Star video games, 2x rating champion, 2x league chief in assists and has damaged virtually all triple-double data who’re a member of the Thunder.
He has a mean triple-double in three distinct seasons on the Thunder and gave the OKC followers numerous nice reminiscences of acrobatic elements, dunks of monsters and clutch moments.
Throughout was at all times higher than Westbrook as a basketball participant, however Westbrook was extra dedicated, extra trustworthy and he delivered for the franchise longer. He’ll at all times stay the favourite of followers within the coronary heart of OKC followers, and he’s the largest Thunder athlete of all time.
