2022-23 Season

Season Recap: The Thunder improved by 16 wins in 2022-23, but still fell short of the playoffs with a 40–42 record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named an All-Star for the first time and had a sensational year for Oklahoma City. He averaged 31.4 points per game and led the team in steals. Josh Giddey, at age 20, played well in his second NBA season and Jalen Williams was one of the league’s best all-around rookies.

December 1, 2022: Jalen Williams was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November.

Season Preview: Any chance for a winning season disappeared this summer after the Thunder’s top draft pick, seven-footer Chet Holmgren, injured his foot and underwent surgery. So he won’t be joining the team’s best player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—who also starts the year injured—and Josh Giddey, who is healthy and fun to watch. That may leave room for some younger players to gain experience and prove themselves, including Darius Bazley and Aleksej Pokusevski.

2021-22 Season

Season Recap: The Thunder struggled for the second year in a row, winning only 24 games. On the bright side, Australian rookie Josh Giddy played wonderfully until a hip injury ended his season in March. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a career-high 24.5 points per game but only played in 56 games due to an ankle injury. Injuries nagged the club all season long, preventing them from putting their best five on the floor most nights.

January 2, 2022: Josh Giddey had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a game against the Mavericks. At 19 years old, he became the youngest player ever to record a triple-double.

December 2, 2021: Josh Giddey was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November. That same night, the Thunder set a new record when they lost to Memphis by 73 points!

Season Preview: Oklahoma City fans could hardly keep up with the changing faces on the roster last season. One player they are glad is still around is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the best guards in the NBA. The Thunder will rebuild around him thanks to 10 first-round draft picks in the next few years. The first piece OKC added was rookie forward Josh Giddey, a teenager out of Australia. He should start for the club, along with defensive specialist Luguentz Dort and big men Derrick Favors and Kenrich Williams.

2020-21 Season

Season Recap: The Thunder finished with 22 victories and missed the playoffs. A major weakness for the team was holding on to the basketball. The Thunder averaged 16.1 turnovers per game, the worst mark in the NBA. Among the bright spots was the play of guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the club in scoring and assists, but sat out the last month of the season with a foot injury. Luguentz Dort was the Thunder’s best defensive player.

April 10, 2021: Oklahoma City started five players between the ages of 19 and 21: Theo Maledon (19), Aleksej Pokusevski (19), Darius Bazley (20), Lu Dort (21), and Moses Brown (21). It was the youngest starting lineup in NBA history.

Season Preview: After a solid season, the Thunder decided it was time to rebuild in 2020–21. Several key players are wearing different uniforms this year, including Chris Paul. New head coach Mark Daigneault will have a young team leader to build around, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a handful of veterans—including George Hill, Trevor Ariza and Danny Green—to share their NBA knowhow with their young teammates.

2019-20 Season

Season Recap: Newcomer Shai Gilbeous-Alexander led the Thunder in scoring while his backcourt mate, Chris Paul, was tops in assists as the team went 44–28 and made it to the playoffs. Oklahoma City had a balanced offense as well as a solid bench led by Dennis Schroder, the third man in the OKC backcourt. The Thunder pushed the powerhouse Houston Rockets to the limit in their playoff match-up, but lost Game 7 in the frantic final moments.

January 13, 2020: 21-year-old guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the youngest player in history with a triple-double that included 20 rebounds.

Season Preview: After trading away Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder may have trouble making the playoffs. But they should be very entertaining with experienced newcomers Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari joining veteran center Steve Adams and young guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder traded their stars for draft picks, and should be able to rebuild their club quickly in the next few years.

2018-19 Season

Season Recap: The Thunder won 49 games and made the playoffs, but lost in the first round for the third year in a row. Paul George and Russell Westbrook combined to average more than 50 points and 19 rebounds a game. Both players were chosen to play in the All-Star Game. Westbrook also led the league in assists. The team’s supporting cast included center Steve Adams, forward Jeremi Grant, and Sixth Man Dennis Schroeder, who was acquired from the Hawks in a three-way deal.

April 10, 2019: Russell Westbrook finished the regular season as the NBA’s assists leader, with 10.9 per game, and teammate Paul George led the league with 2.2 steals per game.

February 16, 2019: Hamidou Diallo won the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. On one of his dunks he jumped over Shaquille O’Neal. On another he jumped over the rapper Quavo.

February 14, 2019: Russell Westbrook set a new NBA record with his 11th triple-double in a row. The old record was held by Wilt Chamberlain, with 9.

Season Preview: Paul George surprised the experts by staying with OKC, and his partnership with Russell Westbrook should get the Thunder to 50 wins if both stay healthy. How far they go in the playoffs after losing in last season’s opening round will depend on their commitment to teamwork and defense. Dennis Schroder, acquired in a trade over the summer, should help in both areas. Centers Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel will have to be great under the boards for the Thunder to challenge the Warriors and Rockets.

2017-18 Season

Season Recap: The “Big Three” of veterans Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony combined to average over 60 points a game, while young center Steve Adams had his best season as a pro. Westbrook 10.3 led the league with assists per game and also had 25 triple-doubles, which were the most in the NBA. He averaged a triple-double for the season for the second year in a row—something no one had ever done before. The season ended in disappointment, however, when the Thunder lost in the opening round of the playoffs, to the Utah Jazz.

March 18, 2018: Carmelo Anthony passed Hall of Famer Reggie Miller for 19th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in a game against the Toronto Raptors.

January 1, 2018: Russell Westbrook was named Western Conference Player of the Month for December 2017. He scored 25+ points 12 times and had 10+ assists 11 times.

October 28, 2017: Russell Westbrook became he first player in history to record a triple-double against every NBA team. He had 12 points, 13 assists, and 13 rebounds in a victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Season Preview: The Thunder were busy over the summer building a team to challenge the champion Golden State Warriors. They added Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to a team led by MVP Russell Westbrook. OKC should be among the best in the West, but the “real” season will start for the Thunder come playoff time.

2016-17 Season

Season Recap: The team played its first season in Oklahoma City without Kevin Durant, who signed with the Warriors. That left Russell Westbrook as the Thunder’s go-to guy, and he responded with 42 “triple-doubles”—the most in NBA history. Westbrook led the NBA in scoring for the second time in three seasons, with 31.6 points per game, and was named league MVP. Unfortunately, he was unable to get his club deep into the playoffs, as OKC lost in the first round to the Rockets.

2015-16 Season

Season Preview: Injuries destroyed the Thunder’s hope of a return trip to the NBA Finals in 2014–15, but the trio of Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Russell Westbrook are ready to make another run this year. Veteran center Enes Kanter, who came to OKC from the Jazz last season, provides rebounding and defense, while guard Dion Waiters, who came over from the Cavs, can score in double-figures if needed.

2014-15 Season

Season Recap: Injuries kept All-Star Kevin Durant off the court for much of the season, and the Thunder missed the playoffs by one win. Russell Westbrook stepped up and not only led the team in scoring—he led the entire NBA with 28.1 points per game. He also led the NBA with 11 triple-doubles. Westbrook was named Western Conference Player of the Month in February, March, and April.

February 15, 2015: Russell Westbrook scored 41 points to lead the West squad to victory in the NBA All-Star Game. He set a record with 27 points in the first half and was named MVP. The only player to score more points in an All-Star Game was Wilt Chamberlain, with 42 in 1962.

Season Preview: Injuries to Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant put the Thunder’s season in grave jeopardy, but also created an opportunity for their teammates to take a bigger role. Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and Steven Adams have the talent to be big contributors as Oklahoma City tries to make it back to the NBA Finals.

2013-14 Season

Season Recap: The Thunder won the Northwest Division with 59 victories—second-most in the NBA. Kevin Durant won his fourth scoring title and his first MVP award, as he led the club in points, assists, 3-pointers, and steals. He was also second in rebounds. Durant had been the MVP runner-up the previous three seasons. In the playoffs, the Thunder advanced to the conference finals but lost to the Spurs.