Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

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
Dennis Johnson #24 of the Seattle Supersonics shoots over John Williamson #23 of the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game circa 1978  (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Dennis Johnson – The lone title and MVP from that series

1976 NBA Draft: Round 2, Pick 12 (29th overall)  by Seattle SuperSonics

Career Milestones:

  • Hall of Fame Inductee
  • Three-time NBA Champion (once with Seattle)
  • NBA Finals MVP 1978-79
  • Nine-time All-Defensive Team – (6x first team, 3x second team)
  • Two times All-NBA (1x first team. 1x second team)
  • Five-time All-Star
  • Two time Player of the Week honors (once with Seattle)

With only four seasons on the Seattle SuperSonics Johnson fails to make the top 10 franchise lists. Still, his relevance is no less important since he led the team to their one and only championship and won the Most Valuable player of that series.

Johnson is better known for his time in Boston, but his short time in Seattle remains equally impressive. Putting what Dennis Johnson accomplished in his four-season stint in Seattle let me put this in perspective. He was the 12th pick of the second round of his draft class or 29th overall selection. He won the Finals MVP in his third season. Additionally, he made first-team All-NBA defense in his third and fourth seasons and second-team All-NBA team in his fourth season.

The modern-day equivalent would be Chris McCullough or Josh Huestis winning Finals MVP this past season while landing on three All-NBA teams in their third and fourth years.

Subsequently, ‘The Airplane’ as he was dubbed lands on this list for these accomplishments.

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