Ranking every bench unit in OKC Thunder history
By Rylan Stiles
No. Ten: 2008-2009
The Oklahoma City Thunder have not had many dark moments in their decade long run. However, their first year was very dark and gloomy. Nothing signified that more than the teams bench unit.
2008-09 was a weird time for the Thunder. 20-games into their first ever season they already experienced a coaching change. P.J. Carlisemo, who was once referenced as a pillar for the OKC Thunder coming to be earlier that summer was ousted after a ton of botched moves and decisions.
Carlisemo started Kevin Durant at Shooting Guard, and kept Russell Westbrook on the bench to start games. That all changed once Scott Brooks took over. Jeff Green saw 78-games as a starter, Kevin Durant was close behind with 74-games. Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison, and mid-season signee Nenad Krstic rounded out the starting five with 65-games, 40-games, and 29-games started respectively.
That left the Thunder bench unit on a 23-win squad to look every bit as dreadful as you would think.
Thabo Sefolosha was the lone bright spot on the Thunder bench during their first season. Thabo Sefolosha lead the way with 8.5-points per game, as well as adding a great defensive effort.
The rest of the mop up squad would not play a factor in the OKC Thunder future. Guys like Kyle Weaver, Earl Watson, Robert Swift, and Damien Wilkins littered across the second and third units makes 2008-09’s bench unit the absolute worse in OKC Thunder history.