Thunderous Intentions
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Top 15 NBA Draft picks in OKC Thunder franchise history

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: Oklahoma City Thunder players, from left, Kendrick Perkins #5, Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Russell Westbrook #0 celebrate with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following their team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 6, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: Oklahoma City Thunder players, from left, Kendrick Perkins #5, Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Russell Westbrook #0 celebrate with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following their team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 6, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft - Top 15 picks All-Time
SACRAMENTO, CA – 1997: Shawn Kemp #40 of the Seattle SuperSonics shoots against the Sacramento Kings circa 1997 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.  (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Shawn Kemp

1989 NBA Draft: Round 1, Pick 17th by Seattle SuperSonics

As we hit the top seven on this list five of the players hold copious career milestones and franchise records which deserve recognition and therefore have been noted.

Career Milestones:

  • Six-time All-Star
  • Three-time All NBA
  • Five-time Western Conference Player of the Week
  • Three-time second-team All-NBA
  • Two seasons top 10 in blocks
  • Three seasons top 10 in rebounds
  • Two seasons top 10 in shooting percentage

Franchise Top 10 Lists:

  • Second rebounds: 5,978
  • Second blocks: 959
  • Seventh points: 10,148
  • Seventh steals: 775
  • Eighth games played: 625

The Rim Destroyer

Long before Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan came into the league the Sonics had this physical specimen that defied logic. Shawn Kemp was primarily known for his dunks.

More specifically it was the brutal force with which he dunked. Prior to witnessing Kemp dunk, fans were familiar with the floating aerodynamics of Doctor J. but Kemp changed the entire dunking landscape with regard to power dunking.

The other earmark was Kemp’s relationship with Gary Payton. Oddly it was John Stockton and Karl Malone who became the main big-guard focus of the NBA during the ’90s, but arguably Payton and Kemp were the more compelling partnership.

The pair led the Sonics to the finals in 1996 but failed to grab the title. Two years later Kemp was traded to Cleveland.

Consistency was a benchmark of Kemp’s time in Seattle with him leading the Sonics to seven consecutive postseasons. Additionally, Kemp averaged a double-double in six of his eight seasons. These factors are why Kemp lands at number seven on the top 15 draft picks in franchise history.

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