Key rookie matchups for OKC Thunder during 2022-23 season

NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) and Jalen Williams pose for photos after Williams was drafted with the 12th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) and Jalen Williams pose for photos after Williams was drafted with the 12th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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This has been a fantastic offseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder, even despite the disastrous news of second overall pick Chet Holmgren being out for the entire 2022-23 NBA season. OKC Thunder fans had a lot of excitement around the NBA Draft, from the team leaping to the second overall pick in the 2022 Draft, to trading for the 11th pick bringing their total lottery selects to three. Tack on the 34th overall pick, a few key re-signings, and a shot of excitement to the arm of Bricktown hoop heads gives the Thunder a passing grade for the 2022 offseason.

The OKC Thunder selected Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, and Jaylin Williams in the 2022 NBA Draft with the 2nd, 11th, 12th, and 34th picks in the draft. Despite Holmgren being sidelined for the year, there are still a ton of rookie matchups to look forward to.

Circling key rookie matchups for the OKC Thunder in the 2022-23 NBA season, when do Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr, Jaden Ivey, and other top prospects come to town?

The 2022 NBA Draft was an exciting one for Oklahoma City Thunder fans, the draft was highly anticipated and the fanbase probably did more research on it than any other year as it was clear the franchise would get at least one key selection. So when can you see these high-profile prospects come to town? 

Paolo Banchero comes to town with the Orlando Magic on a Nationally Televised game that will be shown on TNT on November 1st. On November 3rd, Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets comes to town, while Watson is not a high-profile prospect, the Nuggets selected him with the 30th overall pick via OKC as part of the JaMychal Green trade.

Jabari Smith Jr comes to town on February 4th, he was selected third overall by the Houston Rockets and might play with a chip on his shoulder for that contest against a team that passed him by.

On March 29th, Jaden Ivey will play in the Paycom Center the explosive guard from Purdue was part of a ton of rumors that linked him to OKC in the predraft process. Another hot-button rumor for OKC was Shaedon Sharpe who was eventually selected by the Portland Trail Blazers who come to town on the 19th and 21st of December.

On December 23rd the OKC Thunder take on the New Orleans Pelicans and one storyline that might get lost in the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum is Josh Giddey taking on fellow Australian Dyson Daniel.

The last rookie matchup to examine under a microscope is Keegan Murray’s Kings coming to town on February 26th and 28th after Murray dominated the NBA Summer League circuit.

Next. OKC Thunder Notebook: Scouting, 2k, Football, and mini-camps. dark