Who makes the OKC Thunder list for 15 best players in team history?

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Who makes the OKC Thunder list for 15 best players in team history?

Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman · The Oklahoman

Tue, Oct 3, 2023 ·

11 min read

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Fifteen years ago this month, at Leadership Square in downtown Oklahoma City, the Thunder's name, logo and colors were unveiled .

"Welcome to Thunder basketball," said chairman Clay Bennett, the primary force in bringing the NBA to OKC.

The team took off in a flash. The Thunder made the NBA Finals in its fourth season, made the Western Conference Finals four times and logged 10 playoff appearances in its first 15 years of existence.

Future hall of famers have cycled through Oklahoma City so much so that we've been desensitized. A couple, like Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul , had brief stints. Others, like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook , won MVPs in OKC.

"Obviously our players are the most important people in the organization, and also in the history of the organization," said Sam Presti , the Thunder's general manager since Day 1.

Fifteen years after the Thunder was unveiled, it's time to unveil The Oklahoman's list of the 15 greatest players in Thunder history.

More: OKC Thunder schedule: How to watch the Thunder in 2022-23 NBA season

15. Josh Giddey (2021-present)

Oklahoma City's Josh Giddey (3) celebrates a 3-point basket in the second half during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.

Thunder averages:14.9 pts, 7.8 reb, 6.2 ast, 0.8 stl, 46% FG, 30% 3FG

Games played:130 games

Spoiler: Josh Giddey is the only player on this list who hasn't played for the Thunder in a playoff game.

But Giddey's inclusion isn't just recency bias. In one and a half seasons with the Thunder, and still just 20 years old, Giddey is putting up unprecedented numbers at his age and is already among the NBA's premier passers.

Among Thunder players (minimum 100 games played), Giddey ranks seventh all-time in points per game, and second all-time in rebounds and assists per game. That's more points per game than James Harden , more rebounds per game than Steven Adams and more assists per game than Kevin Durant .

Already, Giddey ranks fourth on the Thunder's all-time assists list behind Russell Westbrook , Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander .

14. Jerami Grant (2016-19)

Thunder averages:9.2 pts, 3.9 reb, 0.8 ast, 1.1 blk, 50% FG, 37% 3FG

Games played:239 (16 playoff games)

Jerami Grant came off the bench in his first two seasons in OKC before breaking out in 2018-19, when he averaged 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds on efficient 50% shooting, including 39% 3-point shooting.

Grant ranks 11th all-time in Thunder win shares, according to Basketball Reference.

Grant is fifth on OKC's all-time blocks list behind Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant, Steven Adams and Nick Collison.

13. Kendrick Perkins (2011-15)

Thunder averages:4.2 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.2 ast, 0.9 blk, 46% FG

Games played:273 (67 playoff games)

The Thunder's trade to bring in Kendrick Perkins marked a culture shift. The Thunder needed to get bigger and nastier to compete against the behemoths roaming the West.

Perkins' on-court value (particularly in the 2012 Finals) didn't always align with his tough-guy persona, but he's a key piece in Thunder history. Playing in 67 playoff games is no joke.

Perkins ranks 10th on the Thunder's all-time minutes list, sixth in rebounds and seventh in blocks.

12. Lu Dort (2019-present)

Thunder averages:13.4 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.7 ast, 0.9 stl, 39% FG, 33% 3FG

Games played:213 (six playoff games)

It's been quite the journey for Lu Dort, from undrafted free agent, to two-way player, to a breakout contributor in the 2020 playoffs.

Dort's offensive game is inefficient, but his defense is indispensable. As is the tenacity and edge in which Dort plays with.

While it's hard for stats to convey his defensive value, he's rising in the record book in other places on sheer volume. Dort ranks 11th all-time in Thunder minutes, eighth in points and fourth in 3-point makes — albeit at a below average 33%.

11. Jeff Green (2008-11)

Thunder averages:15.6 pts, 6.1 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.1 stl, 45% FG, 35% 3FG

Games played:209 (six playoff games)

Jeff Green has played for 10 teams since his days as an inaugural member of the Thunder.

His stint with the Thunder franchise (including his rookie year in Seattle), was the longest stop of his career, which is still going into his age 37 season.

Green ranks seventh on the Thunder's all-time scoring list, eighth in games played, ninth in rebounds, 10th in steals and 12th in win shares.

More: OKC Thunder mailbag: Who's in Mark Daigneault's nine-man rotation for 2023-24 season?

10. Chris Paul (2019-20)

Thunder averages:17.6 pts, 5 reb, 6.7 ast, 1.6 stl, 49% FG, 37% 3FG

Games played:70 (seven playoff games)

Deonte Burton and Hasheem Thabeet logged more minutes for the Thunder than Chris Paul. So did Abdel Nader and Josh Huestis. Heck, Aleksej Pokusevski has doubled up Paul in Thunder games.

But few players matched the gravity of Paul's presence in OKC.

As a 34-year-old, he captained a misfit Thunder team to the bubble playoffs, where OKC took Houston to seven games.

Paul revitalized his career that season, finishing seventh in MVP voting and landing on the All-NBA second team.

Paul played the fewest games of any player on this list, but his place is deserved.

9. James Harden (2009-12)

Thunder averages:12.7 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.5 ast, 1.1 stl, 44% FG, 37% 3FG

Games played:220 (43 playoff games)

Remember, we're only considering the Sixth Man of the Year James Harden in OKC, not the MVP James Harden of Houston.

Harden played three seasons for the Thunder, logging just seven starts (thanks in part to the guy ranked next). Still, Harden ranks eighth in Thunder win shares, 10th in points and 12th in minutes.

On the Thunder's all-time list, Harden ranks fifth in both 3-pointers made and free throws made — showing glimpses of the superstar he'd become.

8. Thabo Sefolosha (2009-14)

Thunder averages:6.2 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.2 stl, 45% FG, 35% 3FG

Games played:368 (69 playoff games)

Thabo Sefolosha was a key cog of several Thunder playoff runs, including the 2012 finals.

The Swiss swingman was a terrific defender and adequate 3-point shooter at 35% for his Thunder career. He ranks fourth in steals, seventh in rebounds, seventh in 3-point makes and 10th in assists in the Thunder record book. He's seventh in Thunder win shares, according to Basketball Reference.

Sefolosha started in 367 of his 368 games with the Thunder. Westbrook, Durant, Adams and Ibaka are the only players with more Thunder starts.

Sefolosha made the All-Defensive second team in 2009-10.

7. Paul George (2017-19)

Thunder averages:25 pts, 6.9 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.1 stl, 43% FG, 39% 3FG

Games played:156 (11 playoff games)

Fun fact: Paul George ranks 24th in Thunder games played — between Mike Muscala and Jeremy Lamb — and third in 3-pointers made, behind only Durant and Westbrook.

George only had a two-year stint in OKC, but what a two years it was. He was an All-NBA selection in both seasons, including a first-teamer in 2018-19, when he finished third in the MVP race.

George was at the peak of his powers defensively. His 170 steals in 2018-19 led the NBA.

George ranks fifth in Thunder steals, sixth in points and ninth in assists.

A lack of postseason success is the only knock against George.

6. Nick Collison (2008-18)

Nick Collison, pictured in 2013, was the first Thunder player, and the only so far, to have his number retired.

Thunder averages:4.7 pts, 4.3 reb, 1.1 ast, 55% FG

Games played:602 (80 playoff games)

Nick Collison's No. 4 jersey hangs in the Paycom Center rafters. Collison was the first Thunder player, and the only so far, to have his number retired. Guys like Durant and Westbrook are still playing, after all.

Collison, or Mr. Thunder, is second behind Westbrook on the Thunder's all-time games played list, and that's not even counting the first four years of Collison's career before the franchise relocated from Seattle.

Collison started 40 games in the Thunder's inaugural season, then made a combined 15 starts over his last nine seasons.

He was a role player, admired for his charge-taking, dive-on-the-floor hustle. Those little things add up. Collison ranks fifth in Thunder win shares.

More: How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander grow into an OKC Thunder superstar? Look to July 11, 2019

5. Steven Adams (2013-20)

Steven Adams ranks fourth among Thunder players in win shares, according to Basketball Reference, and he ranks third all-time in rebounds, blocks and steals.

Thunder averages:9.8 pts, 7.6 reb, 1.2 ast, 1 block, 59% FG

Games played:530 (59 playoff games)

There's still a mural in downtown Oklahoma City of the affable Kiwi, which speaks to the impact Steven Adams had. As a fan favorite, yes, but also as the enforcer on six playoff teams.

Adams ranks fourth among Thunder players in win shares, according to Basketball Reference , and he ranks third all-time in rebounds, blocks and steals.

Adams' field goal percentage (58.9%) is tops among Thunder players (minimum 1,000 attempts).

Only Westbrook, Durant and Ibaka have played more minutes in a Thunder uniform.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2019-present)

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in MVP voting last season, and was a first-team All-NBA selection and a first-time All-Star.

Thunder averages:24.7 pts, 5.2 reb, 5 ast, 1.3 steals, 49% FG, 34% 3FG

Games played:229 (seven playoff games)

Where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lacks in quantity, the quality of his play lifts him to the No. 4 spot after just four seasons in Oklahoma City.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in MVP voting last season, and was a first-team All-NBA selection and a first-time All-Star.

He's destined to join the likes of Durant and Westbrook in Thunder lore if/when playoff success comes.

Already, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fourth on the Thunder's all-time scoring list, and SGA is sure to pass Ibaka this season. Gilgeous-Alexander ranks third on the Thunder assists list, behind Durant and Westbrook, and he's among the top-12 Thunder players in rebounds, steals and blocks.

3. Serge Ibaka (2009-16)

Thunder averages:11.6 pts, 7.4 reb, 0.6 ast, 2.5 blocks, 52% FG, 36% 3FG

Games played:524 (89 playoff games)

This is where the debate starts, as the gulf between No. 2 and No. 3 is massive.

Here's the case for Serge Ibaka: Among the Thunder's all-time leaders, Ibaka ranks third in points, minutes and win shares, fourth in rebounds and first — by a mile — in blocks.

Air Congo swatted 1,300 shots during his seven seasons in OKC. Second on the Thunder's all-time blocks list is Durant with 564 — not even half of Ibaka's total.

Ibaka was an All-Defensive first teamer in three consecutive seasons (2011-14), and he led the NBA in blocks in four seasons.

New Thunder coach, Billy Donovan, poses with players, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka during media day interviews and photo sessions for the 2015-2016 Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team inside Chesapeake Arena on Monday, Sep. 28, 2015. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman.

2. Kevin Durant (2008-16)

Thunder averages:28.4 pts, 8 reb, 3.9 ast, 1.2 steals, 49% FG, 39% 3FG

Games played:561 (91 playoff games)

Kevin Durant is the best player to ever wear a Thunder uniform. A marvel whose combination of size, skill and shotmaking was, and still is, breathtaking.

None did more to boost the Thunder's brand than Durant, but his decision to ditch the plains for the bay in the summer of '16 puts him second to Westbrook — the star who stayed — on the list of greatest Thunder players.

Durant ranks second to Westbrook in just about every Thunder category. Westbrook, however, scored 3,000 more points, dished almost 5,000 more assists and grabbed 1,600 more rebounds than Durant.

Games played for the Thunder: Westbrook 821, Durant 561 (not counting his rookie season in Seattle)

Durant was the 2013-14 MVP and an All-NBA first teamer for five consecutive seasons from 2009-14.

1. Russell Westbrook (2008-19)

Thunder averages:23 pts, 7 reb, 8.4 ast, 1.6 steals, 43% FG, 31% 3FG

Games played:821 (98 playoff games)

In the Thunder record book, one name stands atop the lists of most career points (18,859), rebounds (5,760), assists (6,897), steals (1,442) and minutes (28,328) in Thunder history.

Russell Westbrook.

And that's a truncated list of Westbrook's Thunder records, and only a brief snapshot of his 11-season reign in OKC.

Westbrook, the 2016-17 MVP and triple-double king, was an eight-time All-NBA player with the Thunder.

Divisive in his play and personality, yes, but none is more beloved in OKC than Westbrook, and none had a greater Thunder career.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder all-time player rankings start with Russell Westbrook

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