Mar 25, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Russell Westbrook
(0) talk with guard
Reggie Jackson(15) during a timeout from the game in the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dig deep into a team’s past and, no matter how inept they might currently be, you’ll find a history of quality players at every position. The Oklahoma City Thunder, in existence for nearly 50 years, is certainly no different.
There’s some controversy about those five decades of basketball that can’t be overlooked. The franchise first took the court in 1967 as the Seattle SuperSonics, eventually became just the “Sonics” and then – especially in the eyes of fans from the Emerald City – abruptly cut ties with the Pacific Northwest and moved to the country’s heartland in Oklahoma City. Entering their eight season as the Thunder, they’ve continued the tradition of excellence that began hundreds of miles away.
Sonics fans, by and large, have failed to embrace the team that now resides in OKC. The reasons – political, financial and personal – that led to the move in 2008 are of little concern to them; they merely want to support their team, as any fan base does. Similarly, Thunder fans have welcomed this new version of the team without, in many cases, appreciating the deep history of the franchise.
With the hope that Seattle might someday get a new team to cheer loudly for, we are taking this week to bridge the gap between the two cities by looking at the best players at each position. We begin with the floor generals that traditionally drive the team, the top five point guards in franchise history.
Next: The Wizard Makes Magic in the Emerald City