OKC Thunder All-Decade team: Controversy at Power Forward

[caption id="attachment_85120" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Nick Collison&lt; OKC Thunder (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]rn The OKC Thunder All-Decade team finally hits a debate...the Power Forward position. rnThe OKC Thunder All-Decade team rolls on with the Power Forward position. Finally, we have a bit of controversy. On the later fan polls over on the Thunderous Intentions Twitter page, I expect this to be the closest vote and spark the most heated debates. For good reason, this is the one position that I can see going either way between the two candidates.rnrnAlright, buckle in. This is the first time all series I am willing to concede to the fans who have a different opinion than mine. Before now, the positions have been cut and dry, boring even. Now, these two players have a ton of emotions tied in.rnrnIf you have missed any of the series so far, let's get you caught up.rnrn Coach rnrn Point Guard&#xA0; rnrn Shooting Guard rnrn Small Forward&#xA0; rnrnLet's get into who should be starting for the OKC Thunder on their All-Decade team. A guy that embodies the organization and was a key piece in the Thunder's magic postseason runs.rn Candidate one: rn Nick Collison, OKC Thunder from 08-09 through 17-18 rn Nick Collison . Mr. Thunder. I mean, what else do I need to say? He is the first OKC Thunder player to have his jersey retired, currently hanging in the rafters for the rest of time.rnrnListen, I will admit my bias, after all, you do not have to dig far to find it. On this very platform, I wrote an article calling Nick Collison a Hall of Famer . However, despite what some new money OKC Thunder fans remember, Collison was a huge part of the success of the franchise.rnrn Nick Collison spent his entire NBA career, with the OKC Thunder franchise, dating back to their time in Seattle as the Supersonics. His heart and hustle is one that this blue-collar city latched onto from the start.rnrn[apply_now site_url="thunderousintentions.com" /]rnrnWhile fans around the Oklahoma City area were already aware of Collison's game dating back to his college days where he played within the Big 12 for the Kansas Jayhawks, the scrappy power forward instantly became a fan favorite when he put on the Thunder blue.rnrnThat is something that is lost on many non-Oklahoma based Thunder fans. Sure, throughout the course of the decade Okies would rave about the electric Russell Westbrook , or the unbelievable feats pulled off by the seven-foot ballet dancer playing basketball with such grace in Kevin Durant .rnrnHowever, you would see just as many number four jerseys bouncing around the concourse of the palace on the prairie. Collison truly embodied everything that was and is Oklahoma City.rnrnHis hard screens, fisty rebounds, and even bloodied face will all be long-lasting imprints on this franchise and city.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Candidate%20two%20-%20Serge%20Ibaka" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_87060" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] OKC Thunder, Serge Ibaka (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]rn Serge Ibaka, OKC Thunder from 2010-2016 rnThe now NBA Champion, and Social Media icon, Serge Ibaka has a good argument for being the best player the OKC Thunder have ever trouted out at the power forward position. He even had a nickname given to him by the Thunder faithful: Serge Iblocka.rnrnDuring his time with OKC, Ibaka produced 12 points per contest, over two blocks, seven rebounds, and a 35 percent shooting clip from deep.rnrn[related-category /]rnrnAcross his 524 games for the OKC Thunder, Ibaka was a huge part of the franchise's success, leading the league in blocks twice, and being named to the all-defensive team three times, Ibaka was one of the most balanced contributors the OKC Thunder have ever had.rnrnEventually, upon his retirement, Ibaka's number nine jersey will join Nick Collision in the rafters of Chesapeake Energy Arena or whatever big corporation has bought the naming rights at that time, and be celebrated the same was Collison was a year ago against Ibaka's Raptors.rnrnHowever, is Serge Ibaka the best and most impactful OKC Thunder power forward of the decade?rnrn[nextslide teaser="Candidate%20three%20-%20Jeff%20Green" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_101025" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Jeff Green #22 of the OKC Thunder goes to the basket against Chris Andersen #11 of the Denver Nuggets (Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption]rn Jeff Green, OKC Thunder from 08-09 until 10-11 rnYou guys know the drill by now, yes this third entry is just an honorable mention to give us a solid three nominees for each position. Jeff Green through, still played a sizable role in building the foundation for the OKC Thunder we know today. After a season in Seattle, he made the transition with Kevin Durant , Nick Collison, and the rest of the Sonics to Oklahoma City.rnrnOf course, Jeff Green was involved in two huge packages with the Boston Celtics, most recently in the trade that earned the OKC Thunder Kendrick Perkins the big man that helped lift the franchise to the NBA Finals and give them the grizzled vet presence the young "Thunder U" squad needed.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnThe now Journeyman power forward was once one of the best in the sport before battling a serious heart condition that sidelined him for the entire 2011-12 season, but we forget how good Green once was.rnrnDuring his time with the Thunder, Green averaged 15 points and five rebounds per contest with a solid 34 percent from distance.rnrnWhen we do our fan vote at the end of the series, I am not sure how many will pick Jeff Green and seriously mean it. It is important though to remember how impactful Green once was. If not just on the court but the two huge trade packages he was a part of for the OKC Thunder dealing with the Boston Celtics.rnrnWhile he was shipped off to Boston for center Kendrick Perkins and the high flying Nate Robinson , Jeff Green was acquired by the then Sonics in the Ray Allen trade. When Sam Presti dealt the best three-point shooter in the history of this game to Boston he got back Jeff Green and Delonte West .rnrn Third Place: Jeff Greenrnrn Runner-Up: Serge Ibakarnrn Winner: Nick Collisonrnrn[story_link_next description="Pacers%20offer%20perfect%20template%20for%20OKC%20to%20emulate" url="https://thunderousintentions.com/2019/12/16/okc-thunder-emulate-pacers-restructuring/" /]rnrnListen, I did say this is the one position I will hear arguments on and I admitted my bias up front. For my money though, Nick Collison is the best power forward for the past decade.

Thunderous Intentions

OKC Thunder All-Decade team: Controversy at Power Forward

Serge Ibaka, OKC Thunder from 2010-2016

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