Ranking the top 10 NBA players in OKC Thunder history

Even though it hasn't even been two decades since the Oklahoma City Thunder arrived, the NBA champion has had a rich history of contenders. They're one of the winningest teams since they relocated in 2008 and have been a perennial playoff squad.

The Thunder have had deep playoff runs every other season with an All-NBA representative in most of their years. They've had an unreal span of three MVP winners. Sam Presti has enjoyed unprecedented longevity because of his ability to rebuild and fortify championship contenders.

As the Thunder prepare to enter their 18th season, Thunder Wire will look at the 10 best players in franchise history. Even though it's a brief history, there's still plenty of valid candidates:

10. Steven Adams

Thunder stint (2003-18, 15 seasons): 9.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.0 BPG, 58.9% shooting

One of the biggest fan favorites, Adams helped the Thunder during their first iteration as a title contender. He was an old-school, bruising starter. Next to Durant, Westbrook and George, he took advantage of plenty of easy looks around the rim. He was the perfect pick-and-roll partner with Westbrook and the recipient of plenty of alley-oops. On the boards, he was a rebound machine. You could argue he was the best offensive rebounder in the 2010s. That's an undervalued skill most fans don't appreciate in the moment, but leads to plenty of second-chance looks.

The Thunder needed Adams to be a success story. It didn't take long to realize he was. Even in his rookie season, his toughness was evident. It was only a matter of time before he became the starting center over Perkins. By his second season, that was his job in OKC for five years. That's great production and durability from somebody who was a bit of a project at the start. One of the more underrated development success stories in OKC's history.

9. Chris Paul

Thunder stint (2019-20, 1 season): 17.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.0 RPG, 48.9% shooting, 36.5% 3-point shooting

Nobody else had a more dramatic character arc in Thunder history. When Paul was traded to OKC, nobody wanted him. When he was traded away, he became a fan favorite. It only took one season of a bounce-back year for him to win over the hearts of a fanbase that previously despised him. While he was only there for a single season, it was one of the more fun campaigns ever. He smashed any expectations and completely revamped his career.

The future Hall-of-Famer enjoyed an All-Star and All-NBA season. Poetically enough, he almost sent home the Rockets in a seven-game Round 1 series. Alas, the Thunder stuck to their long-term plans instead of chasing temporary happiness. He was traded to the Suns. But his effect on the organization remained with Gilgeous-Alexander, as he served as a mentor to the eventual MVP and NBA champion. Two feats Paul never captured.

8. Chet Holmgren

Thunder stint (2022-Present, 3-plus seasons): 16.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.3 BPG, 51.9% shooting, 37.2% 3-point shooting

The grand prize of OKC's recent rebuild. Holmgren helped the Thunder win an NBA championship. Being the third-best player on a title winner is exactly what you hoped for when he was taken with the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Even with all of the bad injury luck and missed time. He's missed roughly half of his available time in three seasons, but the squeeze is worth the juice. He's one of the best rim protectors in the league and a plus-minus darling who shows his importance to their defensive domination.

The offense is still a work in progress, but the potential is tantalizing. A seven-footer who drives to the basket and shoots well from the outside is a game-changer. While Holmgren hasn't had box-score stats to back it up yet, his recent contract extension shows a vote of confidence from OKC that he thinks he could eventually graduate as a scorer. You hope the missed time is just from two freak injuries with no chronic problems. That's his biggest question mark. But if he can stay healthy, he could easily carve out a path to being an All-Star player and future Defensive Player of the Year winner.

7. James Harden

Thunder stint (2009-12, 3 seasons): 12.7 PPG, 2.5 APG, 3.4 RPG, 44.4% shooting, 36.2% 3-point shooting

This might go down as the biggest what-if scenario in Thunder history. An NBA championship lessens the sting, but the shocking 2012 trade to the Rockets completely altered the timeline and was one of the most impactful deals in league history. But let's not talk about that. Instead, let's focus on the future Hall-of-Famer's three seasons in OKC. Because while his time was short, there were moments and accomplishments he helped create.

Harden helped the Thunder accelerate to an NBA Finals appearance. Paired with Durant and Westbrook, they formed one of the most promising trios the league has ever seen. To help stagger the offense, he was exclusively a bench player. That helped him win the 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year award. But a disappointing 2012 NBA Finals previewed what turned out to be habitual playoff disappearances. As everybody knows, he went on to become one of the greatest scorers ever in Houston. But let's not forget his humble beginnings in OKC.

6. Serge Ibaka

Thunder stint (2009-16, 7 seasons): 11.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 52.3% shooting, 35.5% 3-point shooting

The Thunder's all-time block leader. At least for now. Ibaka was part of the first iteration of their title contender. He was a complementary piece next to Durant and Westbrook. When push came to shove, they chose to pay him over Harden. He was one of the best defensive players of the 2010s. And indisputably the best shot-blocker at his peak. Even though he never won an NBA championship in OKC, he was the third-best player on a team that went to four Western Conference Finals and an NBA Finals.

Ibaka won two blocking titles in his time on the Thunder. He averaged an eye-popping 2.5 blocks in his time in OKC. At his best, that number was 3.7 blocks in just 27 minutes per game. Yep, read that number again. Just unreal. He made three straight All-Defensive Teams from 2011-14 and finished in the top four in Defensive Player of the Year all four seasons. On offense, he was a perfectly fine third scorer who could hit on his mid-range jumper and later expanded to beyond the perimeter. You have to love how he developed if you're OKC. This was absolutely the best-case scenario and then some.

5. Jalen Williams

Thunder stint (2022-Present, 3-plus seasons): 18.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 51.3% shooting, 38.2% 3-point shooting

This is where there's a gap in the rankings. The top three are All-Star players. And with Williams, there's a strong chance he could usurp a top-two spot. The 24-year-old has quickly ascended into one of the league's best players. He became a first-time All-Star and All-NBA player this past season and was the second-best player on an NBA champion. Oh yeah, he also dropped 40 points in an NBA Finals game on an injured wrist.

The Thunder wouldn't have won the Larry O'Brien trophy without Williams. His skyrocket rise to stardom has arguably been Presti's best draft hit, which is saying something when you look at his star-studded resume. Nobody blinked when he received Gen Z Scottie Pippen comparisons. And the scary part is, he has tons more room to grow. Expect him to climb these rankings over the next handful of seasons as he hopes to add more rings to his hand.

4. Paul George

Thunder stint (2017-19, 2 seasons): 25.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, 43.4% shooting, 39.2% 3-point shooting

Even though his tenure is overshadowed by the trade package he gifted OKC, George still had arguably his best two seasons there. The Thunder shocked the NBA world when they acquired the multi-time All-Star from the Pacers in a deal that paired Westbrook with another top-five small forward one year after Kevin Durant left. The move was a gamble by the usually conservative front office. He only had a year left on his contract with screams of Los Angeles being his next home.

Instead, the Thunder curried enough favor with George to convince him to sign a long-term extension. He went on to have his best season as he finished third in MVP in the 2018-19 season. He averaged a career-high 28 points and attempted nearly 10 3-pointers a game. All while being one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, who also stole the ball. Alas, two straight Round 1 exits forced OKC to pivot. He was shipped to the Clippers and jump-started the NBA's Herschel Walker trade. The Thunder won a championship thanks to what they received back in the deal.

3. Russell Westbrook

Thunder stint (2008-19, 11 seasons): 23.0 PPG, 8.4 APG, 7.0 RPG, 43.4% shooting, 30.8% 3-point shooting

Mr. Triple-Double. Westbrook is synonymous with the 2010s Thunder. He's one of the best players of his era. When he was in OKC, he was a perennial All-Star and All-NBA member. He won a pair of scoring titles and brought home the 2016-17 MVP award. He did the unthinkable of averaging a 31-point triple-double the season after Durant left. Of course, he had his doubters. He is one of the more polarizing players of his era. The video-game box-score numbers were taxed with late-game meltdowns and playoff shortcomings. It created quite a paradox to judge him in the context of league history, but there's no doubt he's one of the best players of his era.

He was the co-star of several OKC teams that went deep into the playoffs with four Western Conference Finals appearances and one NBA Finals trip. For all his faults, any other team would've gladly taken him in his prime. Sadly, that only lasted when he was on the Thunder, as he rapidly descended in recent years. The future Hall-of-Famer enjoyed his best seasons in OKC and will eventually have his No. 0 retired with a statue likely unveiled. His individual brilliance won over the entire fanbase for eternity.

2. Kevin Durant

Thunder stint (2007-16, 9 seasons): 27.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 48.3% shooting, 38.0% 3-point shooting

Hate him all you want, but Durant is one of the 15 greatest players in NBA history. And when a basketball pantheon plays for your franchise for nearly a decade, they deserve the top spot until further notice. Everybody knows who he is. He was viewed as a top-two player in the 2010s and won a ridiculous four scoring titles during his time in OKC. While he won his rings in Golden State, it was on the Thunder where he enjoyed his highest individual accolades.

Durant made seven All-Star and six All-NBA appearances in OKC. He won his sole MVP award in the 2013-14 season. He headlined a title contender for nearly a decade. The Thunder were always in the title conversation, even though they ultimately didn't win one with him. They made four Western Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance. That's gotta count for something. While his 2016 divorce has caused hurt feelings that are still there nearly a decade later, you can't ignore what he did in OKC and where his all-time status is with the franchise. He was a walking 30 points on efficient shooting every night.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Thunder stint (2019-Present, 6-plus seasons): 27.4 PPG, 5.5 APG, 5.2 RPG, 50.3% shooting, 35.5% 3-point shooting

The greatest and best Thunder player ever. Gilgeous-Alexander usurped both of those titles from Durant and Westbrook. For the longest time, there was a semantic distinction between the two. Now, that's irrelevant. The reigning MVP has ascended into all-time status. He's had three straight All-NBA seasons with efficient 30-point campaigns. He was the face of one of the greatest teams ever that brought home the Larry O'Brien trophy. It's been quite a journey for him at the top. He went from people not even knowing how to correctly spell his name to a household name that's dominated the NBA discourse over the last three seasons.

The scary part is, he's just entering his prime. There's a real chance he can be the next face of the NBA as OKC hopes to go back-to-back. His improbable rise to superstardom is the biggest reason why the Thunder won an NBA championship and could win more. And after he signed another contract extension this past offseason, he'll remain on the Thunder for the remainder of his best years. Something that didn't happen with the rest of the otherworldly players who suited up for them.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Ranking the top 10 NBA players in OKC Thunder history