Why Kevin Durant Still Ranks No. 1 on the OKC Thunder Top 10 All-Time Players List Even After SGA’s Championship

The Case for No. 1 on the OKC Thunder Top 10 All-Time Players List

The OKC Thunder Top 10 All-Time Players list just got a lot harder to sort out.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander didn’t just win a ring — he won everything. MVP, scoring title, Finals MVP, and the city’s first NBA championship. That’s a résumé built for the top spot. Jalen Williams? He just played his way into the top 10 with a playoff run that turned heads and broke records.

So why does Kevin Durant still hold the crown?

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We’re breaking it down — rings, stats, moments, impact — and ranking the 10 greatest players in Oklahoma City Thunder history. The list has changed. The debate’s heating up. But one thing remains the same: Durant’s legacy is still sitting at the top.

Let’s settle this.

10. Chris Paul – Point Guard, 6’1″, 175 lbs 

Team: OKC Thunder (2019–2020)

Chris Paul only played one season in Oklahoma City — but man, what a season it was. Most thought he was a salary dump. Instead, he turned a supposed rebuild into a 44-win playoff run and became the heartbeat of one of the league’s most surprising teams.

He was a leader, a mentor, and still a problem in crunch time. That clutch rating? Off the charts. He made everyone better — from SGA to Steven Adams — and nearly knocked Houston out in the bubble.

One year, but a seismic impact.

Accolades:
– NBA All-Star (2020)
– All-NBA Second Team (2020)
– Led Thunder to playoffs in lone season
– League leader in clutch points (2020)

9. Nick Collison – Power Forward, 6’10”, 255 lbs

Team: Seattle SuperSonics / OKC Thunder (2003–2018)

Nick Collison wasn’t a stat-sheet star. He was a foundation piece. A grinder. A glue guy. And the kind of player every contender needs but few fanbases appreciate like OKC did.

He arrived in Seattle, stayed through the move to Oklahoma City, and spent his entire 15-year career with one franchise. He took charges. Set bruising screens. Anchored the second unit. And earned the nickname “Mr. Thunder” for a reason.

When OKC retired his jersey, it wasn’t about numbers. It was about everything else — loyalty, leadership, and a commitment to doing the little things that make teams better.

Accolades:
– No. 4 jersey retired by OKC (2019)
– 910 games with the franchise
– 15-year career with one team

8. Paul George – Small Forward, 6’8″, 220 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2017–2019)

For a season and a half, Paul George played like the best two-way forward in the league. His 2018–19 run was flat-out ridiculous — 28 points per game, lockdown defense, and real MVP buzz. He wasn’t just Russ’s running mate — he was the engine on both ends.

Mid-post footwork. Pull-up threes. Weak-side steals. PG-13 was doing it all — and doing it at an elite level. And while the playoff exits stung, nobody who watched that season forgot how dominant he was.

Short stay? Sure. But peak Paul George in OKC was different. And when he was traded to the Clippers? The return was Shai Gilgeous Alexander — the future of the franchise. So even on his way out, PG left a lasting impact on OKC’s rise.

Accolades:
– 2× NBA All-Star (2018, 2019)
– All-NBA First Team (2019)
– NBA All-Defensive First Team (2019)
– Averaged 28.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 SPG in 2018–19

7. Jalen Williams – Shooting Guard 6’6″, 210 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2022–Present)

By Year 3, he wasn’t just rising — he was ready. Jalen Williams turned a breakout season into a full-blown coming-out party on the game’s biggest stage.

In 2024–25, he became an All-Star, made the All-NBA Third Team, and helped lead OKC to its first NBA championship. His two-way play was crucial, but it was the clutch scoring in the playoffs — especially the 40-piece in Game 5 of the Finals — that made people realize he’s built for this.

At just 24, he’s already an NBA champ and a Finals difference-maker. And if he keeps this trajectory? He might climb even higher on this list.

Accolades:
– NBA Champion (2025)
– NBA All-Star (2025)
– All-NBA Third Team (2025)
– NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2025)
– Averaged 23.6 PPG in 2025 NBA Finals

6. Steven Adams – Center, 6’11”, 265 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2013–2020)

The enforcer. The screen setter. The dude that never backed down.

Steven Adams brought toughness to OKC’s front line for seven straight seasons. He was the ultimate teammate — taking hits, setting bone-rattling screens, cleaning up the glass, and letting the stars shine. When Westbrook went on his triple-double tear?

Adams was right there making it all work.

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But he wasn’t just a role player.

He was a force. Soft hands in the paint, great timing on rolls, and underrated footwork that gave defenses problems.

Off the court, he was a fan favorite. On the court, he was one of the most reliable bigs in the league.

If you suited up against the Thunder during the 2010s, you felt Steven Adams.

Accolades:
– Franchise all-time leader in offensive rebounds
– 3rd in total rebounds in OKC history
– Played in 530 games with the Thunder

5. Serge Ibaka – Power Forward / Center, 6’10”, 235 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2009–2016)

Before the scoring explosions, before the MVPs and the triple-doubles — there was defense. And Serge Ibaka was the anchor.

“Iblocka” protected the rim like it was personal. He led the league in blocks twice, made three All-Defensive Teams, and was the piece that let KD, Russ, and Harden fly on offense.

His timing was elite. His instincts? Even better.

But it wasn’t just defense. Ibaka could hit that top-of-the-key jumper, space the floor, and evolved into a true two-way threat by the time OKC made its Finals run.

He brought toughness, energy, and a sense of identity to the Thunder’s rise.

You didn’t drive the lane lightly when Serge was in the paint.

Accolades:
– 2× NBA blocks leader (2012, 2013)
– 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2012–2014)
– Franchise leader in total blocks

4. James Harden – Shooting Guard, 6’5″, 220 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2009–2012)

Before the beard became an MVP — he was OKC’s secret weapon.

James Harden owned the sixth man role like nobody else. He controlled the second unit, cooked defenders in isolation, and ran the pick-and-roll with a poise beyond his years.

Lefty, shifty, and smart — he gave OKC a third weapon behind KD and Russ, and turned the Thunder into a true title threat.

His 2012 postseason run was special: 16.3 PPG off the bench, closing games, hitting big shots, and making huge reads in the clutch.

And even though the Thunder fell short in the Finals, Harden had already arrived.

He only played three seasons in OKC. But what he gave them? Instant offense. Serious swagger. And a glimpse of what was coming next.

Accolades:
– NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2012)
– Averaged 16.3 PPG during 2012 playoff run
– 3rd overall pick in 2009 NBA Draft

3. Shai Gilgeous Alexander – Point Guard, 6’6″, 195 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2019–Present)

He didn’t just win — he made history.

In 2024–25, Shai Gilgeous Alexander became just the fourth player ever to win the scoring title, MVP, Finals MVP, and an NBA championship in the same season — joining Michael Jordan, Shaq, and Kareem.

He led OKC to a league-best 68–14 record, dominated with poise, and delivered the franchise its first title.

Every step of the way, he was the Thunder’s anchor — smooth, efficient, unbothered by the moment.

His midrange game is surgical. His pace is his own. And when defenses collapsed? He picked them apart with reads most guards don’t see. Shai wasn’t just a star — he became the guy.

And what made it even more poetic? OKC landed him in the Paul George trade. Full circle. Full takeover.

Accolades:
– NBA Champion (2025)
– NBA MVP (2025)
– NBA Finals MVP (2025)
– NBA Scoring Champion (32.7 PPG, 2025)
– 4× NBA All-Star, 3× All-NBA
– Averaged 30.3 PPG in 2025 NBA Finals

2. Russell Westbrook – Point Guard, 6’3″, 200 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2008–2019)

Heart. Hustle. Relentless energy. Russell Westbrook didn’t just play for OKC — he was OKC.

From Day 1, Russ brought a fire the league couldn’t ignore. He attacked the rim like it owed him money, played with a chip the size of the Chesapeake, and never took a possession off.

For over a decade, he was the emotional leader of the Thunder — through playoff runs, MVP seasons, and post-Durant rebuilding years.

And then came history: the triple-double era. Three straight seasons averaging a triple-double.

It started in 2016–17 when he went full beast mode, dropped 31.6 PPG, and won NBA MVP while dragging OKC to 47 wins.

He didn’t just fill the box score — he willed this team forward, night after night.

Loyal to the core. Explosive to the rim. And never — never — boring.

Accolades:
– NBA MVP (2017)
– 8× NBA All-Star (with OKC)
– 8× All-NBA (with OKC)
– 2× NBA scoring champion (2015, 2017)
– Led NBA in assists 3× with OKC
– Averaged a triple-double for 3 straight seasons (2017–2019)
– All-time franchise leader in points, assists, rebounds, and steals

1. Kevin Durant – Small Forward, 6’10”, 240 lbs

Team: OKC Thunder (2008–2016)

Let’s be clear — Kevin Durant is still the greatest player in OKC Thunder history. Period.

He wasn’t just a star — he was a force of nature. The blueprint. The reason the Thunder mattered.

KD turned a fledgling franchise into a title contender, dropped 40 like it was nothing, and delivered historic scoring seasons that changed the game.

Before the drama, before the departure, Durant put Oklahoma City on his back.

He gave them a league MVP, four scoring titles, a trip to the NBA Finals, and eight straight All-Star seasons.

His game was smooth, surgical, and straight-up unstoppable — a 7-foot sniper who made 30 points look easy.

Yeah, he left. But the numbers? The accolades? The impact? They don’t lie.

Accolades:
– NBA MVP (2014)
– 4× NBA Scoring Champion (all with OKC)
– 7× NBA All-Star (with OKC)
– 6× All-NBA (with OKC)
– Rookie of the Year (2008)
– Led OKC to 2012 NBA Finals
– Averaged 28.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG in OKC career

The OKC Thunder Legacy: KD Still Ranks No. 1… For Now

The OKC Thunder Top 10 All-Time Players list isn’t just about stats — it’s about moments, impact, and legacy.

At No. 1 stands Kevin Durant. Love him or hate him, KD put OKC on the map. MVP, 4× scoring champ, 6× All-NBA in Thunder blue.

He was the engine behind their rise to the 2012 Finals. Sure, the 2016 collapse to the Warriors still stings, but peak Durant in OKC was unstoppable.

Right behind him? Russell Westbrook the heartbeat of the franchise.

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Mr. Triple-Double. The 2017 MVP. All-time leader in points, assists, rebounds, and steals.

When KD left, Russ never flinched. He carried OKC through the post-Durant years with passion and pride.

Then comes Shai Gilgeous Alexander  it won’t be long until he’s No. 1 on this, but for now he’s third. 
If he has another season like 2024–25 season then he’ll leapfrog Russ and KD. 
🏆 NBA MVP
🏆 NBA Finals MVP
🏆 Scoring Title (32.7 PPG)
🏆 NBA Champion

Only a few players in NBA history have pulled that off in the same year.
Shai isn’t just chasing legends — he’s knocking on the door.

And the craziest part? OKC landed him in the Paul George trade — a deal that also brought in Jalen Williams,  Sam Presti cooked… but don’t forget:

He fumbled his first potential dynasty with the James Harden trade— a move that might’ve cost OKC a dynasty. Read more on that here

With SGA rising fast and Chet and Jalen Williams emerging as potential future top-10 guys, this list is far from finished..