Best draft picks in Oklahoma City Thunder history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Oklahoma City Thunder history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#48. Jalen Williams
- Stacker score: 1.2
- 12th overall pick in 2022
- Played one season with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 4.5 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 5.6 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#47. James Bailey
- Stacker score: 1.2
- Sixth overall pick in 1979
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 5.0 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.3 win shares, -2.9 box plus/minus, -2.6 VORP
#46. Joe Hassett
- Stacker score: 1.2
- 52nd overall pick in 1977
- Played two seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 1.1 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 6.4 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 1.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1979 NBA Champ
#45. Tod Murphy
- Stacker score: 1.2
- 53rd overall pick in 1986
- Career averages: 5.5 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.0 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 0.6 VORP
#44. Pete Cross
- Stacker score: 1.3
- 23rd overall pick in 1970
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 5.8 PTS, 8.3 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 4.2 win shares
#43. Josh Giddey
- Stacker score: 1.4
- Sixth overall pick in 2021
- Played two seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 7.8 REB, 6.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 4.3 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
#42. Mark Blount
- Stacker score: 1.5
- 55th overall pick in 1997
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 4.6 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.8 win shares, -2.7 box plus/minus, -2.5 VORP
#41. Leonard Gray
- Stacker score: 1.6
- 26th overall pick in 1974
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 5.2 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.9 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 0.9 VORP
#40. Cole Aldrich
- Stacker score: 1.9
- 11th overall pick in 2010
- Played two seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 3.1 PTS, 3.3 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.6 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 1.8 VORP
#39. Cameron Payne
- Stacker score: 2.0
- 14th overall pick in 2015
- Played two seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 2.2 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.3 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#38. Al Tucker
- Stacker score: 2.2
- Sixth overall pick in 1967
- Played two seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 7.2 win shares
#37. Desmond Mason
- Stacker score: 2.2
- 17th overall pick in 2000
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics and one season with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 12.1 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.1 win shares, -2.4 box plus/minus, -2.1 VORP
#36. Danny Vranes
- Stacker score: 2.2
- Fifth overall pick in 1981
- Played five seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 5.1 PTS, 3.9 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.3 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 0.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1984-85 All-Defensive
#35. Andre Roberson
- Stacker score: 2.4
- 26th overall pick in 2013
- Played six seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 4.5 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.6 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 2.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2016-17 All-Defensive
#34. Earl Watson
- Stacker score: 3.4
- 40th overall pick in 2001
- Played four seasons with Seattle SuperSonics and one season with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 2.3 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.2 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 2.8 VORP
#33. Lee Winfield
- Stacker score: 3.6
- 32nd overall pick in 1969
- Played four seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 2.1 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.1 win shares
#32. Bill Hanzlik
- Stacker score: 3.9
- 20th overall pick in 1980
- Played two seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.7 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1985-86 All-Defensive
#31. Danny Young
- Stacker score: 4.9
- 39th overall pick in 1984
- Played four seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 4.6 PTS, 1.2 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.2 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 6.6 VORP
#30. Ervin Johnson
- Stacker score: 5.7
- 23rd overall pick in 1993
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 4.1 PTS, 6.1 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.8 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 2.6 VORP
#29. Vladimir Radmanović
- Stacker score: 6.0
- 12th overall pick in 2001
- Played five seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.5 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 7.6 VORP
#28. Jeremy Lamb
- Stacker score: 6.2
- 12th overall pick in 2012
- Played three seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 3.6 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.8 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 7.9 VORP
#27. Nick Collison
- Stacker score: 6.8
- 12th overall pick in 2003
- Played four seasons with Seattle SuperSonics and 10 seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.5 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 3.1 VORP
#26. Bob Rule
- Stacker score: 6.8
- 19th overall pick in 1967
- Played five seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 17.4 PTS, 8.3 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#25. Luke Ridnour
- Stacker score: 7.2
- 14th overall pick in 2003
- Played five seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 2.3 REB, 4.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.0 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 7.5 VORP
#24. Reggie Jackson
- Stacker score: 7.3
- 24th overall pick in 2011
- Played four seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 12.8 PTS, 2.9 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 34.1 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 8.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 2023 NBA Champ
#23. Brian Taylor
- Stacker score: 7.4
- 23rd overall pick in 1972
- Career averages: 13.1 PTS, 2.7 REB, 4.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x ABA Champ
--- 1972-73 ROY
--- 3x All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
#22. Gar Heard
- Stacker score: 8.1
- 40th overall pick in 1970
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 7.5 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.0 win shares
#21. Johnny Moore
- Stacker score: 8.8
- 43rd overall pick in 1979
- Career averages: 9.4 PTS, 3.0 REB, 7.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.1 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 14.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1981-82 AST Champ
#20. Xavier McDaniel
- Stacker score: 9.4
- Fourth overall pick in 1985
- Played six seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 15.6 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.8 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 9.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#19. Bob Kauffman
- Stacker score: 9.5
- Third overall pick in 1968
- Played one season with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 11.5 PTS, 7.0 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 31.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 3x All Star
#18. Steven Adams
- Stacker score: 11.8
- 12th overall pick in 2013
- Played seven seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 9.2 PTS, 8.2 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.3 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 12.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#17. Vinnie Johnson
- Stacker score: 12.2
- Seventh overall pick in 1979
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 12.0 PTS, 3.2 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.8 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 16.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#16. James Donaldson
- Stacker score: 12.3
- 73rd overall pick in 1979
- Played three seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 7.8 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 62.3 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 12.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#15. Domantas Sabonis
- Stacker score: 12.4
- 11th overall pick in 2016
- Played one season with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 15.1 PTS, 9.7 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.2 win shares, 2.5 box plus/minus, 16.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.0%
- Accolades
--- 2022-23 TRB Champ
--- 2022-23 All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#14. Lucius Allen
- Stacker score: 12.6
- Third overall pick in 1969
- Played one season with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 13.4 PTS, 3.1 REB, 4.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1971 NBA Champ
#13. Doug Christie
- Stacker score: 14.3
- 17th overall pick in 1992
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 55.7 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 20.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 4x All-Defensive
#12. Serge Ibaka
- Stacker score: 14.8
- 24th overall pick in 2008
- Played seven seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 12.0 PTS, 7.1 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 73.0 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 15.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.2%
- Accolades
--- 2019 NBA Champ
--- 2x BLK Champ
--- 3x All-Defensive
#11. Derrick McKey
- Stacker score: 15.0
- Ninth overall pick in 1987
- Played six seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 11.0 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 61.8 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 20.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All-Defensive
#10. Nate McMillan
- Stacker score: 15.8
- 30th overall pick in 1986
- Played 12 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 4.0 REB, 6.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.2 win shares, 3.3 box plus/minus, 27.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1993-94 STL Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
#9. Fred Brown
- Stacker score: 19.0
- Sixth overall pick in 1971
- Played 13 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 2.7 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 63.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1979 NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#8. Rashard Lewis
- Stacker score: 23.1
- 32nd overall pick in 1998
- Played nine seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 90.9 win shares, 1.9 box plus/minus, 33.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2013 NBA Champ
--- 2x All Star
#7. Shawn Kemp
- Stacker score: 24.6
- 17th overall pick in 1989
- Played eight seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 8.4 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 89.5 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 19.4 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 38.5%
- Accolades
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 6x All Star
#6. Dennis Johnson
- Stacker score: 29.0
- 29th overall pick in 1976
- Played four seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 3.9 REB, 5.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 82.6 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 24.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 1978-79 Finals MVP
--- 2x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#5. Jack Sikma
- Stacker score: 41.7
- Eighth overall pick in 1977
- Played nine seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 15.6 PTS, 9.8 REB, 3.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 112.5 win shares, 2.0 box plus/minus, 37.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1979 NBA Champ
--- 1981-82 All-Defensive
--- 7x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#4. Russell Westbrook
- Stacker score: 50.2
- Fourth overall pick in 2008
- Played 11 seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 22.4 PTS, 7.3 REB, 8.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 108.4 win shares, 4.0 box plus/minus, 56.9 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 99.9%
- Accolades
--- 2016-17 MVP
--- 2x Scoring Champ
--- 9x All-NBA
--- 2x AS MVP
#3. Gary Payton
- Stacker score: 56.9
- Second overall pick in 1990
- Played 13 seasons with Seattle SuperSonics
- Career averages: 16.3 PTS, 3.9 REB, 6.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 145.5 win shares, 3.3 box plus/minus, 62.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2006 NBA Champ
--- 1995-96 Def. POY
--- 1995-96 STL Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. James Harden
- Stacker score: 63.2
- Third overall pick in 2009
- Played three seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 24.7 PTS, 5.6 REB, 7.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 158.0 win shares, 6.7 box plus/minus, 76.0 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 100.0%
- Accolades
--- 2017-18 MVP
--- 3x Scoring Champ
--- 7x All-NBA
--- 10x All Star
#1. Kevin Durant
- Stacker score: 65.1
- Second overall pick in 2007
- Played one season with Seattle SuperSonics and eight seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder
- Career averages: 27.3 PTS, 7.1 REB, 4.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 161.9 win shares, 6.8 box plus/minus, 80.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 100.0%
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 2013-14 MVP
--- 2x Finals MVP
--- 4x Scoring Champ
