OKC Thunder Power Rankings: Rating Every Player After First 6 Weeks
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the best teams in the league and find themselves near the top of most NBA power rankings. But how does each Thunder player stack up? That's what we'll find out in this list.
All of the players are ranked based on their statistical outputs and how important they've been to the team's success. Some of the rankings unfold just as you would expect. For example, did anybody seriously think that Kevin Durant wasn't the best player on his own team?
There are, however, some surprises.
Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Steven Adams all have exceeded expectations so far, which has resulted in higher rankings than some of their more experienced teammates.
How does the Thunder roster shake out? Let's dive in and figure it all out.
Nos. 14-11: Ryan Gomes, Andre Roberson, Hasheem Thabeet and Derek Fisher
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14. Ryan Gomes
Stats: 7.7 minutes, 1.3 points (33% FG), 0.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists, PER -2.7
Gomes hasn't seen much action for the Thunder, but he's been disappointing in limited minutes. He hasn't been able to add much on offense or defense, and his negative player efficiency rating (PER) is one of many reasons that he's not getting on the court.
13. Andre Roberson
Stats: 6.5 minutes, 0.8 points (50% FG), 1.7 rebounds, PER 4.0
The rookie is still very raw, but he's showed promise and a high motor. Roberson was a rebounding machine at Colorado, and that ability looks like it has translated to the pros since he's averaging 1.2 offensive rebounds per game.
Per Erik Horne of NewsOK.com, Roberson was recently assigned to the Thunder's D-League affiliate, which will be an excellent opportunity to get playing time and develop the other aspects of his game.
12. Hasheem Thabeet
Stats: 9.5 minutes, 2.0 points (50% FG), 3.0 rebounds, 0.0 blocks, 2.2 PER
Thabeet provides some depth as a huge big man that can protect the rim, but he's proved this season that he can't be counted on for extended minutes.
He's only played in two games when Kendrick Perkins wasn't with the team, and he did nothing in those minutes to earn head coach Scott Brooks' confidence. In addition, his greatest asset is his shot-blocking, but he has yet to block a shot this year.
His size is an increasingly rare commodity, which is why he gets the nod over Andre Roberson, but they're neck and neck in these power rankings.
11. Derek Fisher
Stats: 13.1 minutes, 2.9 points (37% FG, 11% 3PT), 1.0 assists, 0.6 steals, PER 7.7
Coach Brooks is giving the 39-year-old Fisher 13 minutes per game for reasons that are unclear. Fisher is an excellent leader and teammate—especially on such a young team—but his age is beginning to show.
He's giving OKC valuable minutes and defense, but he's yet to find his shooting stroke. Fisher has a more important role than any of the previously ranked players, but he fails to crack the top 10.
10. Kendrick Perkins
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Stats: 17.9 minutes, 3.0 points (45% FG), 3.5 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, PER 5.5
It may seem strange to see OKC's starting center ranked as the 10th-best player on the team, but have you watched him play recently?
He's been sluggish and an offensive non-factor, scoring .64 points per possession, and rookie Steven Adams (who we'll get to later) has already leapfrogged him in terms of on-court effectiveness and energy.
Perkins can still play solid post defense—allowing 0.76 points per post up—and is a vocal leader for the defense, but that value will only become clear in rare matchups against a true center (e.g. Dwight Howard or Marc Gasol).
9. Perry Jones
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Stats: 9.2 minutes, 3.3 points (57.1% FG, 60% 3P), 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, PER 15.5
Perry Jones plays a smaller role for the Thunder than Perkins, but he's been much more efficient for the team.
Jones has been a pleasant surprise and is showing signs of tremendous progress. He's playing within himself and not trying to do too much on the court. He was disappointing throughout his college career at Baylor, but the second-year player is coming into his own with OKC.
The most important development for the Thunder is his outstanding three-point shooting. According to Synergy Sports, most of his points are coming from beyond the arc and he's shooting 67 percent on spot-up threes.
Moreover, he's only allowing his opponents to score 0.62 points per possession which ranks ninth for qualified NBA players per Synergy Sports.
Jones hasn't been able to carve out a consistent spot in the rotation, but his all-around development and three-point shooting—which is critical for the spacing of OKC's offense—makes him the ninth-best player on the roster so far.
8. Nick Collison
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Stats: 17.2 minutes, 4.2 points (51% FG), 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, PER 9.7
Every championship team needs a player like Nick Collison. He takes pride in the dirty work, and he is willing to sacrifice his body by diving for loose balls and taking charges.
Collison's effort doesn't show up in the box score, but he's an integral part of this Thunder team.
He's a better offensive player than Perkins, and he's also an underrated passer. His energy and activity alone make him a more effective defender than Perkins, which is also why the bench player comes in ahead of the starting center.
7. Steven Adams
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Stats: 16.9 minutes, 4.4 points (49.1% FG), 5.0 rebounds, 0.94 blocks, 14.2 PER
He's only six weeks into his NBA career, but Steven Adams is already the second-best big man on his team. To be clear, there are certainly things that the rookie needs to work on, and he's fallen back down to Earth a little after an incredibly impressive start.
Regardless, the talent is evident and it's already here.
He's the best offensive big man in terms of ability to finish around the rim, with a soft touch and the ability to score with either hand.
Additionally, he's a great fit for the athletic Thunder as he can run and score in transition—unlike Perkins.
On defense, he needs to learn how to cover the pick-and-roll better but he's been an effective rim protector with quick feet and active hands.
Even with all the development that needs to occur, Adams has made his case to take over eventually as the starting center. It's early, but he looks like exactly what OKC needed to solidify their frontcourt.
6. Thabo Sefolosha
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Stats: 26.7 minutes, 6.4 points (40% FG, 30.6% 3PT), 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.38 steals, PER 10.0
Thabo Sefolosha has been disappointing offensively, and his shooting needs to improve—especially from beyond the arc—to help the Thunder's ability to space the floor. Nevertheless, he's still an elite perimeter stopper.
In a league where explosive wing scorers are plentiful, Sefolosha is a vital part of OKC's rotation. According to Synergy Sports, the Swiss stopper is giving up 0.65 points per possession to pick-and-roll ball-handlers and 0.96 points per possession to players coming off screens.
It would be a huge boost to the offense if Sefolosha can regain his shooting stroke from the last two years, but his unique value comes on defense.
5. Jeremy Lamb
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Stats: 20.4 minutes, 9.5 points (46.4% FG, 40% 3PT), 2.2 rebounds, PER 15.3
Jeremy Lamb was the biggest question mark for the Thunder heading into this season, but he's been very good so far after a disappointing preseason.
The most exciting aspect of Lamb's performance has been his three-point shooting. He's shooting over 40 percent on spot-up threes according to Synergy Sports, and ranks in the top 30 NBA players for points per possession off screens and on spot-up plays.
He's been an offensive threat off the bench, but he's not merely a one-trick pony either. He's shown flashes of his defensive potential and is allowing fewer than a point per possession to players coming off screens, working in isolation or handling the ball in pick-and-rolls.
Lamb has been terrific so far and will only continue to get better as the year goes on. He may not have astounding numbers, but he's a better all-around player than Thabo Sefolosha right now which earns him a higher ranking.
4. Reggie Jackson
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Stats: 24.3 minutes, 11.2 points (47.8% FG), 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.88 steals, PER 16.7
Reggie Jackson's numbers don't show it, but he's taken huge strides as an NBA player. He's frequently been one of the best players on the court for OKC.
He's been an excellent floor general for the second unit, and he's putting pressure on defenses with his scoring ability. Jackson isn't putting up eye-popping numbers, but the advanced metrics capture how great an impact he's having on the court for OKC.
According to NBA.com's John Schuhmann, the Thunder are outscoring opponents by 18.5 points per 100 possessions when Jackson is playing.
The Boston College product has brought energy to both sides of the court, and his stellar play finds him in no man's land for these power rankings.
He's clearly the fourth-best player on the roster, and he'll be closer to the "Big Three" than the rest of the bunch if he keeps up this level of play.
3. Serge Ibaka
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Stats: 34.1 minutes, 14.7 points (51% FG), 10.1 rebounds, 2.59 blocks, PER 18.8
It was officially panic time in OKC when Serge Ibaka posted two stinkers in the first two games of the year. He didn't look ready to take on a greater offensive load, and his defense and rebounding were nonexistent.
Luckily, that all changed once Russell Westbrook returned to action, and Ibaka has been dominant for the Thunder since.
He's averaging career-highs in points and rebounds en route to the first double-double season of his career. Moreover, he's still been a devastatingly efficient mid-range shooter and is third in the league in blocks.
His two-way game and superb efficiency have him right on Westbrook's tail as the second-best player on the team, but Ibaka is still completely reliant on other players to create his offense.
2. Russell Westbrook
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Stats: 33.4 minutes, 20.6 points (39.4% FG), 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.79 steals, 3.8 TO, PER 17.9
Russell Westbrook is the same athlete he used to be, but he's still working off the rust a little bit. His shooting percentage and assists are too low and his turnovers are too high, but that doesn't prevent him from being the second-best player in OKC.
He's still one of the 10 best scorers in the league, and he's the engine that makes the Thunder machine run.
1. Kevin Durant
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Stats: 39.1 minutes, 28.5 points (45.5% FG, 36.4% 3PT), 8.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.41 steals, PER 26.7
This one doesn't need much explaining, does it? Kevin Durant's efficiency is down, but he's putting up the best numbers in the league right now.
Durant is averaging career-highs in rebounds and assists and he's scoring the second-most points of his young but illustrious career.
He's doing everything for this team, and is right at the top of the MVP shortlist.
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