10 Best Scorers In Oklahoma City Thunder History: Kevin Durant Is One Of The Best Scorers Ever – Fadeaway World

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had some of the most talented players of all time play for their franchise, including an incredible young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka. With a talented young core, the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals in 2012. Of course, a lot of other talented players have played for the franchise after that core was broken up due to trades and free agency. But before the franchise became known as the Oklahoma City Thunder, the franchise was known as the Seattle SuperSonics.

In Seattle, the SuperSonics team also had some iconic talent including Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp that led the team to the Finals in 1996. But throughout their history, the SuperSonics had a lot more All-Star talents that were proficient at scoring the ball. It is time to discover the ten greatest scorers in SuperSonics history, starting with 4-time All-Star Tom Chambers.

Before making 3 All-Star Teams as a member of the Phoenix Suns, Tom Chambers was drafted No. 8 overall in the 1981 NBA Draft. The big man was a solid contributor for them, but he blossomed into a star with the Seattle SuperSonics. Chambers averaged 18.1 PPG in his first season with Seattle, following that up with seasons averaging 21.5 PPG and 18.5 PPG. In his 4th season, Chambers had the best season of his SuperSonics career.

Chambers would average 23.3 PPG and 6.6 RPG in 1987, making his first All-Star Team. The big man would average 20.4 PPG the following season, marking the last year he would appear with Seattle. Tom Chambers would go on to have 3 more All-Star seasons with the Suns, but his time with Seattle will be remembered for him reaching star status.

A 67 forward, Xavier McDaniel is one of the most talented scorers in Seattle SuperSonics history. The former No. 4 overall pick had a solid rookie season, putting up 17.1 PPG while making the All-Rookie Team. The following season, McDaniel would average a career-high 23.0 PPG and 8.6 RPG at only 23 years old. The next year, McDaniel would make his first All-Star Team by averaging 21.4 PPG and 6.6 RPG.

McDaniel would complete the next 3 seasons with the SuperSonics by averaging over 20 PPG, showcasing his ability to score around the rim and also get to the line efficiently. Xavier McDaniel would have his best years with the SuperSonics and experienced his only All-Star season with the franchise. As a result, the forward is one of the top ten scorers in the franchises history.

Known as the Silent Assassin, Dale Ellis was a 67 small forward who was also effective at scoring the ball no matter the circumstances. Ellis would win Most Improved Player of the Year as soon as he got to Seattle, as he averaged 24.9 PPG after 3 seasons of averaging under 10 PPG with the Dallas Mavericks. In his second season with the SuperSonics, Ellis averaged 25.8 PPG, following that up with 27.5 PPG and 23.5 PPG seasons.

His scoring was incredible to watch, especially when Ellis proved to be nothing spectacular after getting drafted with the No. 9 overall pick. The small forward/shooting guard was clearly a proficient scorer, but his 15.0 PPG average in the final season of his career with the SuperSonics took his average down to just under 21 PPG. As an effective scorer, Dale Ellis was still one of the most impactful offensive players for the franchise.

The current franchise player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gigeous-Alexander is one of the most consistent scorers in the history of the franchise. While it is much too soon to consider him an all-time great, Gilgeous-Alexander is on the right track to becoming a perennial All-Star guard. While he might not reach the heights that Russell Westbrook reached, he is certainly improving his game.

In his first season with the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 19.0 PPG followed by 23.7 PPG the following season. This season, the 66 guard is putting up 22.7 PPG through 30 games despite struggling from the field. The former No. 11 overall pick is an incredible talent, and he is off to a great start with OKC.

Drafted No. 19th overall in the 1967 NBA Draft, Bob Rule made the most of his time with the Seattle SuperSonics. The 69 center averaged 18.1 PPG and 9.5 RPG in his rookie season, making the All-NBA Team before blossoming as an All-Star. Rule would put up 24.0 PPG and 11.5 RPG the following season, and 24.6 PPG next year in his first and only All-Star season. The big man was proficient around the rim and was automatic when he had space to use his soft touch.

Rule would have the best start to his career in the 1971 season when he averaged 29.8 PPG through only 4 games because he tore his Achilles during the 4th game. Rule was on his way to becoming a perennial All-Star for years to come, but his injury is known to be one of the most severe in NBA history. Nonetheless, the center does appear in the top-10 list of OKC scorers due to his offensive exploits through 5 seasons.

Quite possibly the greatest player in Oklahoma City Thunder history, Russell Westbrook played 11 seasons while making 8 All-Star Teams. A man who dedicated his heart and soul to Oklahoma City, there is no denying that Westbrook gave his all for the franchise. He went from a No. 4 overall pick averaging 15.3 PPG in his rookie season, to a future MVP and the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a single season. Of course, Russ would average a triple-double 3 total times with the Thunder.

Despite only averaging 43.4% from the field and 30.8% from three, Westbrook still averaged 23.0 PPG over his 11 seasons with OKC with his career-high coming in his MVP season (31.6 PPG). Winning 2 scoring titles with the Thunder, Russell Westbrook had his greatest success on an individual and team level with the team that drafted him.

Before Ray Allen would act as a secondary offensive option who won 2 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, he was an offensive superstar with the Seattle SuperSonics. He was also a part of a nice duo with Rashard Lewis (19.6 PPG between 2003-2007). Ray Allen averaged 24.6 PPG over 5 seasons, making the All-Star Team 4 times.

Allens highest-scoring season came in 2007 when he averaged 26.4 PPG (career-high) before departing for the Boston Celtics the following season. A sharpshooter who was also explosive when attacking the rim, Allen shot 38.6% from three and 44.0% from the field during his time with Seattle.

After dominating the ABA in his rookie season by winning MVP and averaging 30.0 PPG and 19.5 RPG, Spencer Haywood would go on to have a legendary career with the Seattle SuperSonics. His first season in the NBA with the SuperSonics was solid, as he put up 20.6 PPG and 12.0 RPG. But the following year, Spencer Haywood averaged 26.2 PPG and 12.7 RPG en route to his first All-Star season. The big man was just getting started, however, because he had an ability to shoot the ball from mid-range and also score at the rim with ease.

His third season in the league resulted in 29.2 PPG and 12.9 RPG, and the final two seasons of his career with Seattle would result in scoring averages of over 22 PPG. Spencer Haywood would never rekindle his All-Star form when he left Seattle, and his 5-year stint with the team was enough for him to be a top-3 scorer in the franchises history along with becoming a Hall of Famer.

After Kevin Durant left Russell Westbrook and the Thunder high and dry, the organization did not endure a talentless team for too long. By bringing in Paul George to pair with Russell Westbrook, OKC knew they had one of the best duos in the league. As expected, that would remain true. George would average 21.9 PPG in his first season with the Thunder, solid but unspectacular numbers for a player of his caliber.

But the following season, George would have the best season of his career. The superstar forward averaged career-highs 28.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 2.2 SPG. George was unstoppable on the offensive end, averaging 43.8% from the field and 38.6% from the three-point line. Even if George only lasted 2 seasons with the Thunder, his second season would be one of the best scoring seasons of the franchises history.

Hoops Habit

Coming into the NBA as the No. 2 overall pick, Kevin Durant was always destined for greatness. The lengthy forward was a superstar with the University of Texas, and nobody doubted his ability to bring his unstoppable scoring power into the league. In his rookie season with the Seattle SuperSonics, Durant averaged 20.3 PPG while winning Rookie of the Year. Of course, Durant would go on to have 8 more seasons at an elite level while making 7 All-Star Teams.

Durant is a 4-time scoring champion, leading the league in scoring with averages of 30.1 PPG, 27.7 PPG, 28.0 PPG, and 32.0 PPG. The superstar forward only averaged under 25 PPG once with the SuperSonics/Thunder, and that happened in his rookie year. Quite frankly, Durant is the greatest scorer in the history of the Thunder and it isnt very close.

Here are the ten players with the most total points in Oklahoma City Thunder history:

1. Russell Westbrook - 18,859

2. Gary Payton - 18,207

3. Kevin Durant - 17,556

4. Fred Brown - 14,019

5. Jack Sikma - 12,034

6. Rashard Lewis - 10,251

7. Shawn Kemp - 10,148

8. Gus Williams - 9,676

9. Dale Ellis - 9,405

10. Xavier McDaniel - 8,438

The rest is here:

10 Best Scorers In Oklahoma City Thunder History: Kevin Durant Is One Of The Best Scorers Ever - Fadeaway World