Top 15 NBA Draft picks in OKC Thunder franchise history
Kevin Durant – The initial unicorn
2007 NBA Draft: Round 1, Pick 2 by Seattle SuperSonics
Career Milestones:
More from Thunder All-Time Lists
- 10 OKC Thunder players that never logged a single minute for the franchise
- 3 worst starters of the OKC Thunder rebuild era
- 3 players the OKC Thunder signed past their prime
- OKC Thunder: Ranking the 7 worst starters of the Russell Westbrook era
- Which former OKC Thunder players would be the best Slam Ball participants?
Regular Season MVP: 2013-14
All-Star MVP: 2011-12
NBA Champ: 2016-17, 2017-18
NBA Finals MVP: 2016-17, 2017-18
Eight-time: All-NBA (six on the first team, twice on the second team)
Rookie of Year: 2007-08
All-Rookie Team: 2007-09
Nine-time All-Star
Four-time scoring champ: 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2013-14
26 time Western Conference Player of week honors (24 with OKC)
19 time Western Conference Player of the month honors (5x Rookie of month 13 x POM with OKC,1x with GSW)
NBA PER leader: 2013-14
Franchise Top 10 Lists:
- 2nd points: 17,566
- Fourth blocks: 639
- Fifth rebounds: 4,518
- Seventh assists: 2,363
- Seventh games played: 641
- Eighth steals: 774
The defection to Golden State will forever be a highly personal hurt for OKC Thunder fans and many NBA fans in general. Long the darling of the franchise it was expected Durant would always be the loyal one. He himself noted he was against super teams when LeBron joined the Miami Heat. Then again like burner accounts, we’ve become all too familiar with KD exercising his right to change his mind. (Hey, I gave him the top spot – there had to be a little salt included)
Yet, given the opportunity to form the greatest super team of all time he jumped at the chance. Listen, we can debate until we are blue in the face the semantics of the defection, but it doesn’t remove who or what Kevin Durant is. Moreover, what he meant to the franchise, particularly as a new franchise cannot be ignored.
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Debating number one:
And, while I considered giving this spot to Westbrook the fact is Durant has two titles now along with ranking higher than Westbrook on a few of the franchise top 10 records.
Eventually, Westbrook will likely surpass those franchise top 10’s Durant leads him in, and then we’ll re-evaluate the placement. It may require a title even then to consider him the higher-ranked draft pick.
What Westbrook has going for him is unlike Durant, Westbrook was not considered the top draft pick in his class. So, since this is not the best ‘All-time players’ list that will work in his favor.
In spite of this, as an OKC Thunder fan you’re pulling for a title, so Westbrook can lay claim to all the Thunder records. If nothing else, he’s earned that right via his loyalty.
In closing, to reiterate these lists are meant to be debated and will reflect personal preference. Hopefully Adam Silver will figure out a way to once more have a franchise in Seattle as their fan base so rightfully deserves. I’m hopeful that occurs soon as I personally know many Seattle fans who are among the most passionate NBA fans I know.
With that, I leave you to dissect the top 15 draft picks in franchise history and offer your opinions in the comment section.
Note: should you want more NBA Draft prospect information prior to Thursday’s NBA Draft event click the link below. At the end of each preview, the next prospect is linked for your perusal.
Next: Deandre Ayton has skill-set to be the next generational big man
*The 60 prospects are ranked via ESPN’s current draft ranking.