Top 5 Centers in OKC Thunder History

No. 4 – Sam Perkins

“Sleepy Sam” didn’t play a lot of center during his time in the league, but when he did, he was in a Sonics uniform. A strong shooter, George Karl utilized Perkins by bringing him off the bench to stretch the floor. The strategy helped lead the Sonics to reach the 1996 Finals, where they lost to the Chicago Bulls. Perkins is seventh all-time in three-point field goals attempted and made.

Selected fourth overall in the 1984 draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Sam Perkins spent time playing both power and small forward during his time in Dallas. Acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1993, Perkins joined a young Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp on a Sonics team ready to contend and accepted his role at center despite never playing the position in his NBA career.

Perkins tied a NBA record on January 15, 1997 when he made eight three’s without a miss against the Toronto Raptors.

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