Ultimate 5: The best Thunder lineup since '95
While hoops remain on hiatus theScore's NBA editors will be compiling ultimate starting lineups for each team in the association. The catch: only players who have been in the league since the 1995-96 season can be included.
It's been a cause for consternation among some, but the Oklahoma City Thunder's franchise history still includes that of the Seattle SuperSonics. While Seattle reserves the right to use the Sonics' name and logos for a future NBA team, the Thunder own all franchise records.
The Sonics left the Pacific Northwest for the Great Plains in 2008 with one of the greatest players in franchise history (albeit just one year into his career) in tow. In making this list, it would be a disservice to the Seattle teams of the late '90s to not include players who made their living in the Emerald City.
With that in mind, here is the ultimate starting five for the Seattle/OKC franchise since 1995.
Guard
Gary Payton
To this day, "The Glove" remains the franchise's all-time leader in games, field goals, assists, and steals. Payton was the catalyst for the Sonics' powerhouse teams of the mid-'90s, topping the NBA in takeaways and winning Defensive Player of the Year in 1995-96 - the same season he led Seattle to The Finals.
When he retired after the 2006-07 campaign, Payton had nine All-Defensive first-team nods and nine All-Star appearances under his belt - all with the Sonics. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Guard
Russell Westbrook
Westbrook was drafted by the Sonics on June 26, 2008, six days before the team officially announced it was moving to Oklahoma City. For the next 11 years, he more than left his mark on the franchise.
While his chaotic, whirling-dervish style of play could be (and still is) frustrating at times, Westbrook did things in a Thunder uniform that nobody thought was possible. That included thrice averaging a triple-double over the course of a full NBA season and becoming the first NBA MVP in a quarter-century from a team with less than 50 wins.
To date, Russ remains the franchise's all-time scoring leader.
Guard
Ray Allen
We're going with a college-style three-guard/two-forward setup here. The reason: Ray Allen's contributions to the Sonics from 2003-07 edge out Paul George's to the Thunder over his two seasons in town. Also, everybody needs shooters.
Allen was acquired by the Sonics in exchange for Payton midway through the 2002-03 season and averaged 24.6 points in 296 games with the team. He carried Seattle to the second round of the playoffs in 2004-05 and still ranks fifth all time in franchise 3-pointers made.
Forward
Shawn Kemp
Like George, Kemp only spent two years with the franchise after 1995. However, "Reign Man" was part of Sonics lore for six years before that and led them to the 1996 Finals alongside Payton. During that playoff run, Kemp averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds in 20 games while shooting 57% from the floor.
Forward
Kevin Durant
Durant is the only player on this list who suited up for both Oklahoma City and Seattle. He's also the best all-time NBA player on this list, period. KD won four scoring titles during his nine-year tenure with the team, was named league MVP in 2013-14, and led the Thunder to the 2012 Finals.
Even if OKC fans have ill will toward Durant regarding his 2016 free-agency departure, they cannot deny his importance to the team.
Just missed
James Harden
It's important to remember that Harden started a grand total of seven games during his three-year stint with the Thunder, averaging 12.7 points. He was an elite sixth man during his last two seasons in OKC, but this exercise is focused on starters.
Paul George
As indicated above, George's omission is largely based on lack of service time. His two seasons with the Thunder were highly productive, though, as he averaged 25 points in 156 games. He also finished third in voting for both NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 2018-19.