Ranking the 9 greatest Thunder players ever, from Kevin Durant to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

For a franchise that only moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have seen a shocking number of NBA greats put on the jersey.

Even beyond the biggest names, such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a handful of current or future Hall of Famers — including Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony — have already suited up for the team.

Where do each of them place in the short history of the Thunder?

Only players who played for the franchise after the move to Oklahoma City are included in the rankings. While the NBA counts the Sonics and Thunder as the same franchise, the Sporting News is treating the Thunder as a separate entity, given how many notable players have put on the uniform. 

Players were ranked based on a points system made up of nine categories. Points from a scale of 1-10 were assigned based on each player’s strength in a particular category and added up for a final score.

9. Steven Adams (2013-20)

Thunder accolades: 7 seasons; 4,029 rebounds (third in Thunder history since move to OKC); 531 blocks (third since move to OKC)

Why he made SN’s list: After emerging as an impressive defender in the frontcourt early in his career, Adams helped keep the Thunder a playoff team following Kevin Durant’s departure. Ranking third since the move to Oklahoma City in both blocks and steals, Adams averaged better than nine rebounds per game in each of his final three seasons with the Thunder and was a huge factor in the team’s West semifinals win over the Spurs when he averaged a double-double. 

Place in Thunder history: Adams’ signature moment might be the kick to the groin he received from Draymond Green in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, but he was a strong defensive big man whose impact went beyond the box score for seven seasons on Thunder teams that perennially reached the playoffs.

8. James Harden (2009-12)

Thunder accolades: 3 seasons; Sixth Man of the Year (2011-12); 2,795 points; NBA Finals appearance (2012)

Why he made SN’s list: Harden is an interesting case. He only spent three seasons with the Thunder, finding his footing before morphing into an MVP and punching his ticket to the Hall of Fame with the Rockets. In terms of top talents who have played for the Thunder, Harden is near the top — but he was still settling into the NBA for much of his time in Oklahoma City. Still, Harden emerged as a valuable sixth man in his second season and was a key cog in the Thunder team that reached the NBA Finals in 2012, winning Sixth Man of the Year honors and shooting the ball efficiently even in a role that didn’t let him showcase all of his skills.

Place in Thunder history: Harden will be remembered for his work in a Rockets uniform, and justifiably so. That talent was on display in spurts with the Thunder, too, and Harden’s role in Oklahoma City’s run to the Finals in 2012 as part of a trio of future MVPs gives him a place in franchise history. 

MORE: Ranking the 11 greatest Knicks players of all time

7. Luguentz Dort (2019-present)

Thunder accolades: 6 seasons; All-NBA Defensive First Team (2024-25); 3rd in 3-pointers since move to OKC; 4,442 points

Why he made SN’s list: Dort was a gem of a find by Sam Presti after going undrafted, and he morphed into a mainstay for the Thunder on their journey from one of the NBA’s worst teams to one of the best. A terrific defender, Dort earned All-NBA Defensive First Team honors in 2024-25 while scoring double-digit points per game for the fifth consecutive season. Dort’s six seasons in a Thunder uniform are on par with plenty of other notable players’ tenures since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City, and his impact on winning helps him stand out.

Place in Thunder history: The “glue guy” on a 68-win team competing for a championship, Dort was a central figure during some of the darkest seasons in Thunder history and helped the franchise dig out of them with his stellar two-way abilities. 

6. Jalen Williams (2022-present)

NBA Entertainment

Thunder accolades: 3 seasons; All-Star (2024-25); All-NBA Third Team (2024-25); All-Defensive Second Team (2024-25); Rookie of the Year runner-up (2022-23)

Why he made SN’s list: Williams’ Thunder legacy is still very much in its infancy, but he’s impacted winning enough early in his career to earn a place among the franchise’s best players since the move to Oklahoma City. A budding scorer who makes a high impact on the defensive end, Williams has blossomed into an All-Star for the Thunder and an ideal sidekick for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Place in Thunder history: A championship would change everything for Oklahoma City’s core, but Williams has already carved out a legacy of his own with an All-Star and All-NBA selection as a key cog on the NBA’s newest elite team. 

MORE: Complete NBA finals, playoff history for Oklahoma City

5. Paul George (2017-19)

Thunder accolades: 2 seasons; 2-time All-Star; 2-time All-NBA selection; 3rd-place MVP finish; All-NBA Defensive First Team selection; NBA steals leader (2018-19); franchise single-season 3-point record (2018-19)

Why he made SN’s list: George only spent two seasons with the Thunder, but they were two of the best seasons of his career. George finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in his first season in Oklahoma City before putting together the most complete season of his career in 2018-19, averaging a career-high 28 points per game and earning a spot on both the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team. While playoff success didn’t follow, George brought his best to the Thunder.

Place in Thunder history: George’s long-term legacy in Oklahoma City is the trade that brought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a bevy of draft picks back to the franchise, but he gave the Thunder a much-needed second superstar a year after losing Kevin Durant and put on a show for the fans with arguably the best stretch of his career.

4. Serge Ibaka (2008-16)

Thunder accolades: 7 seasons; 3-time All-Defensive First Team selection; 2-time NBA blocks leader; franchise leader in blocks; three top-4 Defensive Player of the Year finishes; NBA Finals appearance (2012)

Why he made SN’s list: Ibaka was never close to being the lead offensive option on any Thunder team, but he was a dominant defensive force who quietly played a critical role in the early 2010s while Durant and Westbrook earned the attention. A three-time All-Defensive First Team selection, Ibaka led the NBA in blocks per game twice and is the Thunder’s all-time leader in blocks, including their decades in Seattle. Ibaka also averaged at least 12 points per game in four seasons and at least seven rebounds per game in five consecutive seasons.

Place in Thunder history: A prolific shot-blocker who showcased Oklahoma City’s stellar development system, Ibaka helped set the tone defensively on some of the most memorable teams in Thunder history, including the franchise’s NBA Finals team in 2012.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2019-present)

Thunder accolades: 6 seasons; 3-time All-Star; 3-time All-NBA First Team selection; 2024-25 NBA MVP; Three top-5 MVP finishes; NBA scoring leader (2024-25); Thunder single-season scoring record; 10,405 points

Why he made SN’s list: Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t stopped improving since the day he landed in Oklahoma City as part of the return for Paul George, and the result is one of the best players in franchise history. He has an MVP to his name along with three seasons of at least 30 points per game, morphing into one of the NBA’s most lethal scoring threats while still playing well on the defensive end. With Gilgeous-Alexander at the forefront, the Thunder were the NBA’s best team in 2024-25 with 68 wins.

Place in Thunder history: While a championship might allow Gilgeous-Alexander to separate himself from someone like Westbrook, there’s no doubt — even in the early stages of his career — that his MVP award and otherworldly offensive numbers put him on track for a retired jersey and ticket to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

MORE SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER MVP

2. Russell Westbrook (2008-19)

Thunder accolades: 11 seasons; 8-time All-Star; 8-time All-NBA selection; 2016-17 NBA MVP; franchise points leader (Seattle and OKC); franchise triple-doubles leader; NBA Finals appearance (2012); 6,897 assists (most since move to OKC)

Why he made SN’s list: The Russell Westbrook experience can be a whirlwind, but he was one of the most exciting players in the NBA during much of his time with the Thunder and posted numbers many believed weren’t possible before he came along. A key sidekick of Durant during an era that saw the Thunder routinely compete for the Western Conference crown, Westbrook then earned MVP honors after Durant’s departure and averaged a triple-double in three consecutive seasons.

Place in Thunder history: Westbrook had his share of frustrating moments, but the lows were mostly exceeded by the highs during his prime with the Thunder. A dynamic point guard who rewrote NBA history with his penchant for triple-doubles and won an MVP, Westbrook should one day have his numbers in the rafters in Oklahoma City.

1. Kevin Durant (2007-16)

Thunder accolades: 9 seasons; 7-time All-Star; 2013-14 NBA MVP; 2007-08 NBA Rookie of the Year; five All-NBA First-Team selections; six top-5 MVP finishes; 4-time NBA scoring leader; NBA Finals appearance (2012); 17,566 points

Why he made SN’s list: While Durant didn’t lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a Thunder uniform, he earned his place as a franchise legend with nine stellar seasons with the franchise. Durant led the NBA in scoring four times with Oklahoma City, earning MVP honors in 2013-14 as one of his six top-five MVP finishes with the organization. He consistently kept the Thunder in contention in the West and reached the NBA Finals at just 23 years old in 2012. Consistently a top-five player in the league for nearly a decade with the Thunder, Durant will one day have his jersey up in the rafters in Oklahoma City.

Place in Thunder history: While Thunder fans were undoubtedly annoyed by Durant’s decision to leave for the super-team Warriors in 2016, cooler heads will prevail once his career ends. Durant brought excellence to the city as it welcomed an NBA franchise, doing everything he possibly could do short of a championship.

MORE: Ranking the 11 greatest Knicks players ever, from Patrick Ewing to Jalen Brunson