Mussatto: Let's raise a glass to OKC Thunder's all-time rebuilding team
With the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, led by an All-World guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a couple of rising stars in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren and a deep bench, I can’t help but think back to the lean seasons — all two of them — before the Thunder evolved from rebuilder to contender.
They weren’t that long ago, you know.
The Thunder made the playoffs with Chris Paul in 2019-20. OKC then went 22-50 in the truncated 2020-21 season and 24-58 in 2021-22 — Years 1 and 2 of the rebuild. Last season the Thunder made the play-in, and now it’s four wins away from reaching the Western Conference Finals.
You know this team. The Big Three, with Lu Dort and Josh Giddey rounding out the starting five. Isaiah Joe bringing rain, Jaylin Williams booming, Kenrich Williams hustling and Aaron Wiggins doing his darndest to save this hallowed sport.
But before the Thunder hosts the Mavericks on Tuesday night in Game 1 of Round 2, let’s raise a glass to the legends of the Thunder rebuild. The cast of forgettable characters, never to be forgotten, who played a small part in Oklahoma City’s return to the big time.
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Some were here a week, others a half-season or more. We all knew the Thunder was focused on development and draft positioning — when losses equaled wins and standings were read from the bottom up — but the guys that came through here, what did they care about the Thunder’s lottery ball combinations? They weren’t trying to be OKC lifers. They were just trying to stay in the league.
In hindsight, we cared far too much about who would make the roster on a 20-something win team (They released Frank Jackson?!?!), but at the time it was all we had.
“Some were here longer than others,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said, “but all the guys that started their careers here I think have contributed to a certain spirit of professionalism, attacking the program, growing through experiences.
“The team has always felt like it does now. All the chemistry, camaraderie stuff that’s on display right now, it’s getting more attention now because we’re winning, but it’s always been there. It was like this when we were winning 20 games.”
There were fantastical players from foreign lands. Aleksej Pokusevski, a beacon of (false) hope in the most dire of times. Gabriel Deck, AKA “Tortuga,” an Argentinian with an archaic game. Vit Krejci, who did some things in Atlanta this season. Theo Maledon, who led the Thunder in total minutes in 2020-21. And don’t forget Georgios Kalaitzakis. The Greek forward started the Thunder’s final four games in the 2021-22 season. He played all 48 minutes in the season finale.
I think back to players Photoshopped in Thunder jerseys who never wore the actual jersey. Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Danny Green, Trevor Ariza and James Johnson among them.
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To reliable vets like Al Horford, Derrick Favors and George Hill.
“I would use (Mike) Muscala’s name if he wasn’t back here,” Daigneault said. “He was definitely in that category. Horford is a guy that comes to mind, just his professionalism.”
Remember Darius Miller?
There were record-breaking performances during those days. Moses Brown had 23 rebounds against the Celtics — the most boards in Thunder history. Jaylen Hoard had two 20-rebound games four days apart! Eight Thunder players have recorded a 20-20 game: Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and … Hoard and Brown.
Justin Jackson hit a dagger 3-pointer to beat the Bucks. But no one was there to see it. The Thunder played the entirety of the 2020-21 season without fans in the home stands.
Fans never saw the NASCAR jerseys in person. The Thunder was supposed to have an alternate court that season to match.
Fans never met Josh Hall, who shot 4 of 37 from 3-point range. Or Svi Mykhailiuk or Justin Robinson. Or Joel Embiid’s former backup, Tony Bradley.
Charlie Brown Jr. leads the all-name team of that era.
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Darius Bazley deserves a mention, but as a two-year starter he’s a little too prominent for this list. Same goes for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Hamidou Diallo and Ty Jerome. And Isaiah Roby, whose stock I have yet to sell.
Tre Mann came back as a fan for a playoff game.
Scotty Hopson, an OKC Blue legend, played one game for the Thunder. It was his first NBA action in four years.
Mamadi Diakite was a Thunder player for 13 games. Melvin Frazier Jr. played three games. The Rob Edwards era was over after two.
Paul Watson thrice started.
Zavier Simpson, better known as Captain Hook, graced us with his weird game.
These are the good old days, but what a time those days were.
“Everybody that’s come in the door,” Daigneault said, “has their fingerprints on our team one way or the other.”
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Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder all-time rebuilders from 2020-22 deserve a toast
