OKC Thunder: Ranking the 7 worst starters of the Russell Westbrook era

Number 1: Kyle Singler

This was the easier ranking of the entire list to hammer down; of course, Kyle Singler had to be considered the worst starter of the Russell Westbrook era. Singler has not played for the OKC Thunder franchise since the 2017-18 season (12 games), and the Thunder did not stop paying his contract until July 1st…as in July 1st, 2023!

His lack of on-court production was one of many problems for Singler in OKC; it was also the dead money owed after the Thunder waived the Duke product.

Kyle Singler’s NBA career lasted six seasons, split between the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder. He was traded to the Thunder in February of 2015 from Detroit for Reggie Jackson.

Kyle Singler played in 136 games for the OKC Thunder, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and 0.6 STOCKS per game while shooting a lackluster 30 percent from beyond the arc (Down from his 37 percent clip with the Pistons),

If you take away the inaugural 2008-09 season, Kyle Singler owns the worst win-share season of any player to make 18 or more starts during the Russell Westbrook era. In 2014-15, Singler started 18 games while turning in a lowly 0.4 win share. During that season, Kevin Durant only played in 22 games, and the OKC Thunder won just 45 games finishing second in the Northwest Divison but failing to make the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference thanks to a buzzer-beating bucket by Anthony Davis.

It is safe to say the 2014-15 season was a mess of a year and, for uncontrollable reasons, one of the worst of the Russell Westbrook era, but it still lands Kyle Singler the top spot and the honor of being the worst starter in OKC Thunder history from 2008-2019.

The OKC Thunder were one of the most successful franchises in sports during this era, so being on the list for their worst starters in that span is not the embarrassment it would be for other franchises. Now, the Thunder once again rosters one of the best young cores in the NBA, and I hope this era of Thunder basketball can match (and maybe surpass) the Westbrook era.