The 2022 NBA Playoffs are here! Sadly, the OKC Thunder will not be competing in the NBA postseason, but they have already secured their biggest postseason victory in years, as the Clippers fall to the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2022 NBA Play-in game! So, who should you be rooting for now that the Thunder will be on the couch, and they have already netted an extra lottery pick based on a postseason outcome? Let’s take a look around the association to see which teams have the best Thunder-ties.
First and foremost, the New Orleans Pelicans deserve a ton of support for gifting the Thunder an extra lottery pick by bouncing the Clippers from the NBA Playoffs. Sadly for our bird friends, they run up against the Phoenix Suns, who not only are a buzz saw but should have Bricktown’s entire support.
The Suns are led by Chris Paul, who had two separate stints in Oklahoma City, once as a member of the OKC Hornets, the second as an outcast to the Thunder during the 2019-20 season, lifting a squad that had a 0.2-percent chance of making the postseason to the fifth seed and a game seven in the NBA Bubble against the Rockets. Given that Paul embraced OKC, and the fact his Hall of Fame career deserves a ring, let’s through our support behind the Suns. Another notable former-Thunder player on the Suns is Cameron Payne.
New Orleans Pelicans: N/A
Golden State Warriors: Aaron Wiggins is an honorary Thunder legend for his performances in Bricktown.
Denver Nuggets: Jeff Green, Austin Rivers (for 30 minutes).
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gay for that one leaked nameplate free agency tour.
Memphis Grizzlies: Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke (for the 2 minutes before the trade was announced to acquire Darius Bazley)
Minnesota Timberwolves: N/A
Toronto Raptors: Svi Mykhailiuk
Philadelphia 76ers: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey for the Mike Muscala buzzer-beater in the bubble, Matisse Thybulle for the rumored draft promise, Shake Milton is from Owasso, Oklahoma, Danny Green was involved in the Dennis Schroder trade, Charlie Brown Jr,
Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young from. Norman, Oklahoma, Danilo Gallinari, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
Miami Heat: Omer Yurtseven OKC Blue/Training camp legend, Markieff Morris, Victor Oladipo
Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin as an Oklahoma kid
Boston Celtics: Al Horford
Chicago Bulls: Billy Donovan, Alex Caruso OKC Blue legend
Milwaukee Bucks: Serge Ibaka, George Hill
Without Russell Westbrook or the OKC Thunder to root for in the postseason, It seems the entire state of Oklahoma should throw their support behind the Suns. Who are you rooting for this postseason?