Since moving from Seattle in 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as one of the NBA's most prosperous teams. They have won six division titles, advanced to the NBA Finals once, and made the playoffs 11 times. They have selected some of the greatest NBA players over the years, who have had an impact on the club and the league. Following are some of the best players the Thunder drafted in their history:
James Harden
Out of Arizona State, where he had won the Pac-10 Player of the Year honor as a sophomore, the Thunder selected James Harden as the third overall choice in 2009. In addition, Harden won the Sixth Man of the Year award that year after coming off the bench to average 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Before the 2012–13 NBA season, Harden was moved to the Houston Rockets, where he developed into one of the league's top scorers and playmakers. Since leaving Oklahoma City, he has made nine All-Star teams, earned an MVP award, and won three scoring crowns.
Serge Ibaka
The Thunder selected Serge Ibaka with the 24th overall selection in 2008 after he had previously played for a Spanish club team in the Congo. The Thunder used the 6-foot-10 forward, who was chosen as a raw talent with exceptional agility and promise, as a defensive anchor. Ibaka twice led the league in blocks, was named to three All-Defensive First Teams, and significantly aided the Thunder's 2012 NBA Finals success. He also improved his mid-range and three-point shooting, which helped him become a key stretch big man. In seven seasons with Oklahoma City, Ibaka averaged 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
Russell Westbrook
The Thunder selected UCLA's Russell Westbrook with the fourth overall pick in 2008 after he had won the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honor as a sophomore. Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double for three straight seasons from 2016 to 2019, was also a triple-double machine. In 2017, when he had game averages of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists, he earned the MVP title. With Oklahoma City, he also earned spots on nine All-Star teams, two All-NBA First Teams, and two scoring championships. While playing with Oklahoma City for 11 seasons, he averaged 8.4 assists, 7.4 rebounds, and 23 points per game.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant, who had won every major national Player of the Year award as a freshman at Texas, was selected in the second round by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007. The 6-foot-10 big had an immediate impact with Seattle/Oklahoma City, winning Rookie of the Year in 2008 and four times finishing first in league scoring. Additionally, he was named to seven All-Star teams, and six All-NBA First Teams, and he was the MVP of Oklahoma City. In 2012, when the Thunder made their lone trip to the NBA Finals, he scored 30.6 points per contest against the Miami Heat. In addition, from 2011 and 2014, he assisted Oklahoma City in reaching three Western Conference Finals.
Chet Holmgren
Chet Holmgren, a Gonzaga player who had guided his squad to an unbeaten regular season and a trip to the national championship game as a rookie, was selected in the second round by Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected the 7-foot-1 center in the first round as a player of a generation with unmatched potential and size-beating flexibility. In his first season with Oklahoma City, Holmgren was voted Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks per game while shooting over 50% from the field from three-point range. With Oklahoma City, he was also named to his first All-Star squad and All-NBA First squad.
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