Thunder news: First-round rookie bringing 'baby Joel Embiid' skillset to OKC (Exclusive)

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Thunder news: First-round rookie bringing 'baby Joel Embiid' skillset to OKC (Exclusive)

Josue Pavon, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Wed, Sep 30, 2026 ·

5 min read

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Thunder news: First-round rookie bringing 'baby Joel Embiid' skillset to OKC (Exclusive) appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

OKLAHOMA CITY — Long before Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Thomas Sorber missed the 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL, he looked up to Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid . After Sorber talked about Chet Holmgren's help last season , he looked back on his high school days in the Northeast. Roughly 1,384 miles from Oklahoma City, Thomas attended Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia amidst Embiid's MVP season in 2022-23 before graduating in 2024.

Sorber, 20, a promising center, says Embiid profoundly influenced him as a kid and would soon become the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, joining the Thunder as a rookie three days after winning its first championship in franchise history.

" Joel Embiid . When I was in high school, he played a big factor in my high school life," Sorber tells ClutchPoints. "I went to high school in Philly. So, everybody around me called me "Baby Joel" — all this other stuff. I wanted to be Thomas at the end of the day. But I'd still look at his game — still watched his game; see what moves he would do, and I'd work on them myself."

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Thunder's Thomas Sorber , a New Jersey native, transferred to Archbishop Ryan after his freshman year, determined to reach his potential on the court after a growth spurt in middle school, when he grew to 6-foot-5 in eighth grade.

"Once I got to seventh grade, when I was really playing basketball every single day — going to the park, just playing fives, playing against people, I was like, 'I'm starting to love this sport.' Once I got to eighth grade, I got a little taller—I was like 6'5 in eighth grade," Sorber said. "I ended up really falling in love with the game. Once I got to high school, that's where it just shot up, and I was like, yeah, I think this is what I wanna play for the rest of my life."

But it wasn't always easy for Sorber, who is now 6-foot-9. Traveling south to Philadelphia every morning at 6 o'clock to make it to school by 7:30 AM took a toll on him, but in the end, it all paid off as Sorber blossomed into one of the top prospects in the nation.

"Then and there, when I was in tenth grade, I was like, 'Damn, I don't know if I want to keep doing this; it's so far — it's so hard,' but then I was like, just make it into a routine," Sorber added. "It's all going to stop one day. I felt like that definitely shaped me into the man I am today, having that discipline, having that composure, knowing it's going to get better at the end of the day."

Taking things a step further, Thunder's Thomas Sorber committed to working on his body, keeping a sharp eye on what he put into it, while emphasizing his diet throughout his teenage years.

"I was really starting to focus on what I was eating," Sorber said. "Not just eating, not just fast food and junk food. I changed my mindset from there. Going into Georgetown, a lot of people thought I was going to be two years, three years, then look at the league. But going into Georgetown, I just had the mindset of beating everything in front of me, taking care of my body at the highest level, and honestly, taking my chances anytime I could.

"So, anytime I got onto the floor, I tried to make it the best chance I could. And the other side of things, with defense, I take pride in getting stops. When I get scored on — I wouldn't say it's a mental lapse — but I'll say, 'Damn, I can't let that happen.' Once I figured that out, I was like, I can really be something great here if I just keep continuing to work on my game, working on my body."

Today, the Thunder rookie recovers from workouts with Quest Nutrition as his primary protein source, available in various forms, including milkshakes, snack bars, and chips.

"Quest has definitely played a big part in giving the protein that I need," Sorber said. "Also, Quest does a great job of not really prioritizing nutrition over taste. They have both taste and nutrition. Their protein milkshakes are one of the best protein shakes I think I've ever had. If I'm not in the mood for that, I'll probably go with a Stacks Bar, or if I'm in the mood for something salty, I'll do one of their Quest Protein Chips. They have plenty of different options to tailor to your taste — that's what I really like about them."

As for work on the court, Thunder rookie Thomas Sorber spent part of his summer training with All-Star Chet Holmgren , as well as other teammates ahead of the upcoming season.

"I definitely got a couple of shots up with Chet. Got a couple of shots up with the rookies as well," Sorber said. "I've been working out with the rookies, mainly because I'm a rookie again this year. Trying to get a taste of everybody, working out with different types of people, seeing what they do in their workout — maybe I can add it to mine."

"Everyone made it easy to talk to, going from Shai all the way to Brooks Barnhizer ," Sorber said. "All of the guys were just easy to talk to every single day. Anytime I needed advice, or needed to know something, I can ask anybody on the team, and they'll just let me know what I need to know," Sorber concluded.

Sorber is slated to make his NBA debut in 2026-27. Following training camp, Sorber and the Thunder will begin their preseason schedule when they host the Pelicans on October 6.

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