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
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder poses for a portrait after winning the NBA MVP Award at the NBA Awards Show (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Russell Westbrook – The face of the current franchise

2008 NBA Draft: Round 1, Pick 4 by  Seattle SuperSonics

Career Milestones:

  • Regular Season MVP: 2016-17
  • Two-time All-Star MVP: 2015, 2016
  • Seven-time All-Star
  • Two-time scoring champ: 2014-15, 2016-17
  • Total assists leader: 2017-18 ( 820)
  • 17 time NBA Western Conference Player of the week
  • 10 time NBA Western Conference Player of the Month
  • Eight-time All-NBA (3x first team, 5x second team)
  • All-Rookie first team 2008-09
  • NBA PER leader: 2017-17

Franchise Top 10 Lists:

  • Third points: 17,184
  • Second assists: 6,113
  • Third rebounds: 4,953
  • Third steals: 1,300
  • Fifth games played: 748

Sam Presti went through a three year period where he repeatedly benefited by teams ahead of him drafting players to leave transformational stars available. And, for as great as Durant and Harden are it’s rumored Presti feels the greatest attachment to Westbrook.

At the time Westbrook was selected he was considered a bit of a surprise with the fourth pick. And, although Stephen Curry was selected afterward you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doubts other players should’ve been taken higher. The fact Presti also nabbed Serge Ibaka in this draft class was beyond fortuitous.

Despite the naysayers, Westbrook has gone on to make Presti’s decision look brilliant. When Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double his first season after Durant bolted he became the darling of the NBA.

But, flash forward to this season when Westbrook repeated this feat and no one seemed as impressed.  OKC Thunder fans can be driven to moments of angst defending the Brodie’s brilliance. As Westbrook said “if it’s so simple to get a triple-double then why isn’t everyone doing it?

One of a kind:

Yet, Westbrook is one of the most polarizing individuals on the hardwood. Search the Association for a  player who gives their all 100 percent of the time and you’ll most likely be speaking of an energy reserve player, not a superstar. This will to win and drive separates him from his peers and is what most of his fans cite for the reason they fell in love with his game from the start.

Scanning the franchises All-Time lists it’s easy to imagine Westbrook may one day own most, if not all the key categories. Let’s just hope his loyalty to the organization results in a title so he can be the player celebrated for doing what his partner in crime felt was easier elsewhere.

Though there is an argument to place Westbrook third or even first on this list he clearly makes the top three. Nor will it be a surprise if he ends up atop this list – after all, he’s Russell Westbrook!

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