FRESH off winning the first NBA Championship in the history of the franchise, Oklahoma City Thunder added two young pieces to their roster at the 2025 Draft in Chicago last month, ensuring the young core continues to grow.

The Thunder were the best team in the NBA last season, winning 68 of their 82 games and storming to the top seed in the Western Conference. They made their way through the west and then defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the NBA Finals. Since the season has finished, the Thunder have re-signed the core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, and now have their roster secured for the future.

As a bonus, the Thunder added two pieces at the 2025 intake, one in each round as the reigning champions look to claim consecutive titles in the coming seasons.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Drafted Players

Thomas Sorber (pick 15), Brooks Barnhizer (pick (44)

The Thunder added a big man and a wing with their two selections at the 2025 NBA Draft, ensuring the young talent will continue to roll through the organisation, who are the best-placed in the NBA as it stands.

With their first selection and the 15th overall (courtesy of some clever trading in the past), the Thunder added Sorber, a big man out of the Georgetown Hoyas, who will likely get plenty of playing time in the coming years in the power forward spot.

Sorber plays with an old-school style, and he had one of the highest floors of any player in the draft, and will likely be a solid role player for the Thunder at the very least, and luckily, Oklahoma City is in a position where it can focus his development rather than throwing him to the wolves against more physical big men early.

As a scorer, he does his best work inside, showing excellent touch around the rim, strong footwork and reliable hands when catching the ball inside. He is also a strong passer for his position and can be a connective playmaker for the team in the future. Although his shooting does need some work, Sorber should be a key piece for the Thunder in the next decade.

With their second selection and sole pick of the second round, the Thunder acquired Barnhizer at 44, in what will be a long-term play for the team if he can develop into a rotational piece on what is currently a stacked roster.

One thing in his favour is how well he is performing in the Summer League at the moment, and while his stats are not jumping off the page, it is his defence that is catching the eye. In his most recent outing, Barnhizer recorded a whopping six steals and has an immense knack for disrupting the offence of the opposition, meaning he could be a worthy successor to Alex Caruso.

The Thunder added a pair of solid pieces for the future at the 2025 NBA Draft, and are even more set up for the future by adding an old-school power forward and defensive wing.