With the 15 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder decided to further fill out their big man arsenal by selecting Thomas Sorber out of Georgetown.
Considering they already have 15 players locked in to contracts for the 2025-26 campaign and were tabbed as a team that has no "real needs right now" as far as roster construction is concerned, many were under the impression that GM Sam Presti could opt to trade out of Wednesday's first-round entirely and add to their treasure trove of capital for more picks down the road.
Ultimately, the Thunder held onto their top rights on the night and snatched up Sorber, who, soon after being called up to the podium, revealed to the world why he was the perfect pick for the defending champions.
Thomas Sorber preaches defensive mindset after Thunder selection
Asked during his post-selection presser what noteworthy skills he believes he'll be bringing to this Thunder squad, the 19-year-old quickly pointed to his defensive play as something that he's convinced will stand out right away.
"I think I'm bringing a defensive-minded type of intensity. Just giving them all I've got on the defensive end," Sorber said.
Following his lone season with the Hoyas, the big man managed to establish himself as arguably the top rim-protector in the 2025 draft class, averaging 2.0 blocks per game while sporting an elite blocks percentage of 7.6.
However, his defensive acumen isn't relegated to just the shot-swatting department, as his presence is felt all across the court thanks to his impressive combination of athleticism, lateral quickness, and length (6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan).
In fact, his dominance on the less glamorous side of the ball was so astounding that he led all of Division One in on-off defensive rating last year at 26.5.
Such a mentality is bound to fit seamlessly into this Thunder team's on-court agenda, as they reminded everyone that defense truly does win championships, leading the league in defensive rating (106.6), stocks (16.0 per game), opponent field goal percentage (43.6), and forced turnovers (17.0 per game) during their title-run campaign.
It goes without saying that the addition of Thomas Sorber was highly logical, strategic, and an overall great move for the franchise, with Jeremy Woo of ESPN going as far as to call his selection at 15 the best pick of the night.
If his freshman season reel didn't already have fans convinced that he's an ideal fit for this Thunder club, then his post-draft comments certainly should.