2021–22 Oklahoma City Thunder season explained

The 2021–22 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 14th season of the franchise in Oklahoma City and the 56th in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Thunder were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season. It was the first time the team suffered consecutive losing seasons since 2006–2009 where they went on a four–year stretch.

Previous season

The Thunder finished the 2020–21 season 22–50 to finish in fourth place in the Northwest Division, fourteenth in the Western Conference and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15.

Season!style="font-size:11px;text-align:center;line-height:110%"

Record	Seeding
2018–19	49–33	6th
2019–20	44–28	5th
2020–21	22–50	14th

In their first year of the rebuild, the Thunder started the season returning only six players from the 2019-20 season. The Thunder also mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Billy Donovan after five seasons. To replace Donovan, the Thunder promoted assistant coach Mark Daigneault who previously served as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue.^[1]

Replacing Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams in the starting lineup, the Thunder started veterans George Hill, Al Horford and promoted second-year forward Darius Bazley. After failing to trade Horford at the deadline, the Thunder announced Horford will remain inactive for the rest of the season to prioritize the team's younger talent.^[2] After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's season-ending injury and Al Horford being shut down, the Thunder finished April and May with a 2–23 record including a 152–95 loss to the Indiana Pacers which was the largest home loss in league history.^[3]

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: 2021 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club team
1	6	Josh Giddey	PG	Australia
1	16	Alperen Şengün	C	Turkey	Beşiktaş
1	18		PG	United States
2	34	Rokas Jokubaitis	PG	Lithuania
2	36		PG	United States
2	55		SG	United States

The Thunder had three first round-picks and three second-round picks entering the draft.^[4] The Thunder owned one first-round pick entering the 2021 NBA draft lottery. The Thunder ended the night with the sixth overall pick after having a 34.1% chance to be in the top three. The Thunder other's first rounders were acquired from the Al Horford trade and the Paul George trade.^{[5] [6]} The Thunder also acquired two other second-round picks from the Kelly Oubre Jr. trade.^[7]

On draft night, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Alperen Şengün, the 16th pick, to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a 2022 protected first-round pick via DET and a 2023 protected first-round pick via WAS.^[8] The Thunder traded the draft rights to Rokas Jokubaitis, the 34th pick, and the draft rights to Miles McBride, the 36th pick to the New York Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, the 32nd pick.^[9]

The Thunder ended 2021 NBA draft night with Australia's NBL guard Josh Giddey, Florida guard Tre Mann, Villanova center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Maryland guard Aaron Wiggins.^[10]

Trades

On June 18, the Thunder traded Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Kemba Walker, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick.^[11] On August 6, the Thunder negotiated a contract buyout and waived Walker. In return, Walker gave up $20 million in total in his buyout. Walker gave up $9.7 million in his 2021-22 salary and $10.2 million in his 2022-23 salary.^{[12] [13]}

On July 30, the Thunder traded a 2027 second-round pick and cash considerations to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick.^[14]

Free agency

See main article: List of 2021–22 NBA season transactions. For this offseason, free agency began on August 2, 2021. Tony Bradley, Svi Mykhailiuk and Mike Muscala were set to hit unrestricted free agency while Josh Hall was set to hit restricted free agency. On August 2, it was reported that Mike Muscala agreed to a two-year, $7 million deal to stay with the Thunder, which he later signed on August 11.^{[15] [16]} On August 18, Josh Hall accepted his two-way qualifying offer to re-sign with the Thunder.^[17] However, on September 12, the Thunder waived Hall.^[18] On August 19, Tony Bradley signed a deal with the Chicago Bulls.^[19] On September 11, Svi Mykhailiuk signed a deal with the Toronto Raptors.^[20] On August 2, it was reported that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agreed to a five-year, $172 million rookie extension with the Thunder, which he later signed on August 6.^{[21] [22]}

On September 3, Vít Krejčí signed a rookie deal with the Thunder. Krejčí was originally selected 37th overall in the 2020 NBA draft but did not sign a contract in the 2020-21 season, instead spent the season rehabbing with the Oklahoma City Blue after tearing his ACL.^[23] On September 15, Paul Watson Jr. signed a two-way contract with the Thunder. Watson Jr. spent the 2020-21 season with the Toronto Raptors.^[24]

On September 26, Charlie Brown Jr. was waived by the Thunder.^[25]

Front office and coaching changes

On August 10, the Thunder announced Nick Collison as a special assistant to Sam Presti. Prior to taking this position, Collison served as a basketball operations representative for the Thunder. Collison joins Eric Maynor, Nazr Mohammed, Mike Milks and Anthony Morrow as former Thunder players contributing to the Thunder organization.^[26]

Standings

Conference

Game log

Preseason

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| October 4| Charlotte | | Josh Giddey (18)| Josh Giddey (7)| Gilgeous-Alexander & Maledon (4)| Paycom Center
| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| October 10| @ Milwaukee | | Luguentz Dort (19)| D. J. Wilson (7)| Giddey, Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| Fiserv Forum
12,442| 0–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| October 13| Denver| | Darius Bazley (16)| Darius Bazley (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4)| Paycom Center
| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| October 14| Denver | | Aleksej Pokusevski (22)| Gabriel Deck (11)| Josh Giddey (8)| BOK Center
| 1–3

Regular season

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| October 20| @ Utah | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18)| Josh Giddey (10)| Giddey, Pokusevski, Maledon (3)| Vivint Arena
18,306| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| October 22| @ Houston | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (13)| Aleksej Pokusevski (7)| Dort, Giddey (4)| Toyota Center
15,674| 0–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| October 24| Philadelphia | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29)| Josh Giddey (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Paycom Center
14,256| 0–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| October 26| Golden State | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30)| Josh Giddey (9)| Giddey, Gilgeous-Alexander (4)| Paycom Center
15,717| 0–4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| October 27| LA Lakers | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Josh Giddey (10)| Paycom Center
15,783| 1–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| October 30| @ Golden State | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15)| Darius Bazley (8)| Josh Giddey (6)| Chase Center
18,063| 1–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| November 1| @ LA Clippers | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28)| Maledon, Muscala, Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Josh Giddey (7)| Staples Center
13,722| 1–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| November 4| @ LA Lakers | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28)| Derrick Favors (11)| Josh Giddey (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 2–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9| November 7| San Antonio | | Mike Muscala (20)| Darius Bazley (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Paycom Center
12,972| 3–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| November 10| @ New Orleans | | Luguentz Dort (27)| Josh Giddey (12)| Josh Giddey (9)| Smoothie King Center
15,355| 4–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11| November 12| Sacramento| | Dort, Gilgeous-Alexander (22)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (14)| Josh Giddey (5)| Paycom Center
12,881| 5–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 12| November 14| Brooklyn| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (8)| Giddey, Wiggins (4)| Paycom Center
15,080| 5–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 13| November 15| Miami | | Luguentz Dort (20)| Darius Bazley (7)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Paycom Center
12,330| 5–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| November 17| Houston | | Luguentz Dort (34)| Josh Giddey (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Paycom Center
12,066| 6–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 15| November 19| @ Milwaukee | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17)| Josh Giddey (12)| Giddey, Williams (4)| Fiserv Forum
17,341| 6–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 16| November 20| @ Boston | | Luguentz Dort (16)| Darius Bazley (10)| Darius Bazley (6)| TD Garden
19,156| 6–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 17| November 22| @ Atlanta | | Dort, Giddey, Jerome (15)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (10)| Josh Giddey (8)| State Farm Arena
15,806| 6–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18| November 24| Utah| | Luguentz Dort (27)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (10)| Josh Giddey (8)| Paycom Center
17,341| 6–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 19| November 26| Washington | | Luguentz Dort (21)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Paycom Center
14,579| 6–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 20| November 29| @ Houston | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22)| Mann, Robinson-Earl (7)| Josh Giddey (7)| Toyota Center
12,829| 6–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 21| December 1| Houston | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (39) | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (9)| Dort, Robinson-Earl (4)| Paycom Center
13,222| 6–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22| December 2| @ Memphis | | Luguentz Dort (15)| Muscala, Robinson-Earl (5)| Ty Jerome (4)| FedExForum
13,103| 6–16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 23| December 6 | @ Detroit | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30)| Bazley, Robinson-Earl (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (13)| Little Caesars Arena
10,522| 7–16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24| December 8 | @ Toronto| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26)| Derrick Favors (9)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Scotiabank Arena
19,800| 8–16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 25| December 10| LA Lakers | | Tre Mann (19)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (9)| Josh Giddey (7)| Paycom Center
16,523| 8–17|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| December 12| Dallas | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18)| Aleksej Pokusevski (9)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Paycom Center
15,747| 8–18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| December 15| New Orleans | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Josh Giddey (9)| Josh Giddey (7)| Paycom Center
13,253| 8–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 28| December 18| LA Clippers | | Luguentz Dort (29)| Josh Giddey (10)| Josh Giddey (18) | Paycom Center
15,123| 9–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29| December 20| @ Memphis | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Josh Giddey (11) | FedEx Forum
15,721| 10–19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30| December 22| Denver | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27)| Bazley, Gilgeous-Alexander (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12)| Paycom Center
14,932| 11–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31| December 23| @ Phoenix | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29)| Darius Bazley (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Footprint Center
17,071| 11–20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| December 26| New Orleans | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)| Josh Giddey (10)| Josh Giddey (10)| Paycom Center
15,608| 12–20|- style="background:#fcc;"| 33| December 28| @ Sacramento | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Dort, Williams (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Golden 1 Center
14,750| 12–21|- style="background:#fcc;"| 34| December 29| @ Phoenix | | Ty Jerome (24)| Jerome, Wiggins (8)| Ty Jerome (5)| Footprint Center
17,071| 12–22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35| December 31| New York | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23)| Isaiah Roby (9)| Ty Jerome (5)| Paycom Center
16,451| 13–22|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36| January 2| Dallas | | Josh Giddey (17)| Josh Giddey (13)| Josh Giddey (14)| Paycom Center
14,571| 13–23|- style="background:#fcc;"| 37| January 5 | @ Minnesota | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| Target Center
14,375| 13–24|- style="background:#fcc;"| 38| January 7| Minnesota | | Luguentz Dort (18)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| Paycom Center
14,874| 13–25|- style="background:#fcc;"| 39| January 9 | Denver | | Luguentz Dort (14) | Josh Giddey (7)| Josh Giddey (8)| Paycom Center
14,772| 13–26|- style="background:#fcc;"| 40| January 11| @ Washington | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32)| Darius Bazley (9)| Giddey, Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Capital One Arena
13,985| 13–27|- style="background:#cfc;"| 41| January 13| @ Brooklyn | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Barclays Center
16,964| 14–27|- style="background:#fcc;"| 42| January 15 | Cleveland | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (21)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Paycom Center
15,284| 14–28|- style="background:#fcc;"| 43| January 17 | @ Dallas | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34)| Luguentz Dort (7)| Dort, Giddey (7)| American Airlines Center
19,266| 14–29|- style="background:#fcc;"| 44| January 19 | @ San Antonio | | Aaron Wiggins (19)| Josh Giddey (11)| Josh Giddey (8)| AT&T Center
11,848| 14–30|- style="background:#fcc;"| 45| January 21 | @ Charlotte| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29)| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| Paycom Center
15,835| 14–31|- style="background:#fcc;"| 46| January 22| @ Cleveland | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
19,432| 14–32|- style="background:#fcc;"| 47| January 24 | Chicago | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31) | Bazley, Giddey (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10)| Paycom Center
14,378| 14–33|- style="background:#fcc;"| 48| January 28 | Indiana | | Luguentz Dort (27)| Josh Giddey (10)| Josh Giddey (5)| Paycom Center
15,106| 14–34|- style="background:#cfc;"| 49| January 31| Portland | | Luguentz Dort (18)| Josh Giddey (12)| Ty Jerome (6)| Paycom Center
13,812| 15–34|- style="background:#cfc;"| 50| February 2| @ Dallas | | Luguentz Dort (30)| Darius Bazley (11)| Josh Giddey (10)| American Airlines Center
19,200| 16–34|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51| February 4 | @ Portland | | Luguentz Dort (23)| Darius Bazley (12)| Ty Jerome (8)| Moda Center
15,329| 17–34|- style="background:#fcc;"| 52| February 5 | @ Sacramento | | Josh Giddey (24)| Aleksej Pokusevski (9)| Josh Giddey (8)| Golden 1 Center
14,097| 17–35|- style="background:#fcc;"| 53| February 7 | Golden State | | Luguentz Dort (26)| Josh Giddey (11)| Josh Giddey (7)| Paycom Center
17,009| 17–36|- style="background:#fcc;"| 54| February 9 | Toronto | | Pokusevski, Maledon (18)| Kenrich Williams (12)| Giddey, Williams (6)| Paycom Center
13,858| 17–37|- style="background:#fcc;"| 55| February 11| @ Philadelphia | | Derrick Favors (16)| Darius Bazley (15)| Giddey, Jerome (5)| Wells Fargo Center
20,669| 17–38|- style="background:#fcc;"| 56| February 12| @ Chicago | | Luguentz Dort (31)| Josh Giddey (12)| Josh Giddey (10)| United Center
20,072| 17–39|- style="background:#cfc;"| 57| February 14 | @ New York | | Tre Mann (30)| Josh Giddey (11)| Josh Giddey (12)| Madison Square Garden
18,433| 18–39|- style="background:#fcc;"| 58| February 16| San Antonio | | Tre Mann (24)| Isaiah Roby (12)| Josh Giddey (10)| Paycom Center
14,920| 18–40|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#fcc;"| 59| February 24| Phoenix | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32)| Josh Giddey (9)| Giddey, Mann (6)| Paycom Center
14,176| 18–41|- style="background:#cfc;"| 60| February 25| @ Indiana| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (36)| Isaiah Roby (11)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Mann (5)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
15,182| 19–41|- style="background:#fcc;"| 61| February 28| Sacramento | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (37)| Aleksej Pokusevski (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10)| Paycom Center
13,945| 19–42|- style="background:#cfc;"| 62| March 2| @ Denver | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29)| Aleksej Pokusevski (11)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Roby (5)| Ball Arena
15,167| 20–42|- style="background:#fcc;"| 63|March 4| Minnesota| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Isaiah Roby (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Paycom Center
15,180| 20–43|- style="background:#fcc;"| 64| March 6| Utah | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33) | Aleksej Pokusevski (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Paycom Center
15,079| 20–44|- style="background:#fcc;"| 65| March 8| Milwaukee | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (14)| Paycom Center
15,743| 20–45|- style="background:#fcc;"| 66| March 9 | @ Minnesota | | Aaron Wiggins (25)| Aaron Wiggins (9)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Target Center
16,191| 20–46|- style="background:#fcc;"| 67| March 13| Memphis| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)| Darius Bazley (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Paycom Center
17,482| 20–47|- style="background:#fcc;"| 68| March 14| Charlotte ||Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Tre Mann (6)| Paycom Center
15,810| 20–48|- style="background:#fcc;"| 69| March 16| @ San Antonio| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34)| Darius Bazley (9)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Maledon (9)| AT&T Center
14,994| 20–49|- style="background:#fcc;"| 70| March 18| @ Miami | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26)| Aleksej Pokusevski (15)| Aleksej Pokusevski (5)| FTX Arena
19,600| 20–50|- style="background:#fcc;"| 71| March 20 | @ Orlando | | Darius Bazley (18)| Isaiah Roby (10)| Aleksej Pokusevski (5)| Amway Center
15,012| 20–51|- style="background:#fcc;"| 72| March 21 | Boston | | Tre Mann (35)| Darius Bazley (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Paycom Center
15,345| 20–52|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73| March 23| Orlando | | Theo Maledon (25)| Vit Krejci (11)| Theo Maledon (6)| Paycom Center
14,393| 21–52|- style="background:#fcc;"| 74| March 26| @ Denver | | Theo Maledon (20)| Isaiah Roby (7)| Vit Krejci (6)| Ball Arena
19,520| 21–53|- style="background:#cfc;"| 75| March 28 | @ Portland | | Isaiah Roby (30)| Theo Maledon (10)| Aleksej Pokusevski (11)| Moda Center
18,188|22–53|- style="background:#fcc;"| 76| March 30 | Atlanta | | Lindy Waters III (25)| Roby, Sarr (9)| Theo Maledon (8)| Paycom Center
15,595|22–54|- style="background:#fcc;"| 77| April 1 | Detroit | |Theo Maledon (28)|Jaylen Hoard (20)|Theo Maledon (6)| Paycom Center
16,961|22–55|- style="background:#cfc;"| 78| April 3 | Phoenix | | Olivier Sarr (24)| Aleksej Pokusevski (10)| Aleksej Pokusevski (12)| Paycom Center
17,078|23–55|- style="background:#cfc;"| 79| April 5| Portland | | Jaylen Hoard (24)| Jaylen Hoard (21)| Zavier Simpson (5)| Paycom Center
14,674|24–55 |- style="background:#fcc;"| 80| April 6 | @ Utah | | Jaylen Hoard (23) | Vit Krejčí (6)| Zavier Simpson (11)| Vivint Arena
18,306|24–56|- style="background:#fcc;"| 81| April 8| @ LA Lakers | | Jaylen Hoard (27) | Jaylen Hoard (17) | Zavier Simpson (7)| Staples Center
18,997|24–57|- style="background:#fcc;"| 82| April 10| @ LA Clippers | |Simpson & Kalaitzakis (17)|Jaylen Hoard (15)| Zavier Simpson (8)| Staples Center
18,210|24–58

Player statistics

Regular season

|-| Darius Bazley| style=";" | 69| 53| 27.9| 42.2%| 29.7%| 68.8%| 6.3| 1.4| 0.8| style=";" | 1.0| 10.8|-ff| Gabriel Deck ^‡| 7| 0| 8.0| 57.1%| style=";" | 50.0%| -| 0.9| 0.7| 0.1| 0.0| 2.6|-| Mamadi Diakite ^‡| 13| 3| 14.5| 53.2%| 0.0%| 54.5%| 4.5| 0.2| 0.4| 0.7| 4.3|-| Luguentz Dort| 51| 51| 32.6| 40.4%| 33.2%| 84.3%| 4.2| 1.7| 0.9| 0.4| 17.2|-| Rob Edwards ^≠| 2| 0| 5.5| 25.0%| 25.0%| -| 1.5| 0.0| 0.0| 0.0| 1.5|-| Derrick Favors| 39| 18| 16.7| 51.6%| 12.5%| 64.0%| 4.7| 0.6| 0.4| 0.3| 5.3|-| Melvin Frazier Jr. ^≠| 3| 0| 40.0| 27.1%| 4.8%| 71.4%| 4.3| 0.3| 0.3| 0.0| 10.7|-| Josh Giddey| 54| 54| 31.5| 41.9%| 26.3%| 70.9%| 7.8| 6.4| 0.9| 0.4| 12.5|-| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander| 56| style=";" | 56| 34.7| 45.3%| 30.0%| 81.0%| 5.0| 5.9| 1.3| 0.8| style=";" | 24.5|-| Jaylen Hoard ^≠| 7| 5| 34.3| 48.9%| 36.0%| 42.9%| style=";" | 12.0| 2.4| 0.9| 0.7| 14.7|-| Scotty Hopson ^≠| 1| 0| 18.0| 50.0%| 0.0%| -| 1.0| 1.0| 0.0| 0.0| 4.0|-| Ty Jerome| 48| 4| 16.7| 37.8%| 29.0%| 80.9%| 1.6| 2.3| 0.6| 0.1| 7.1|-| Georgios Kalaitzakis ^≠| 4| 4| 41.5| 46.4%| 36.4%| 47.6%| 3.3| 3.0| style=";" | 2.5| 0.3| 17.5|-| Vít Krejčí| 30| 8| 23.0| 40.7%| 32.7%| 86.4%| 3.4| 1.9| 0.6| 0.3| 6.2|-| Théo Maledon| 51| 7| 17.8| 37.5%| 29.3%| 79.0%| 2.6| 2.2| 0.6| 0.2| 7.1|-| Tre Mann| 60| 26| 22.8| 39.3%| 36.0%| 79.3%| 2.9| 1.5| 0.8| 0.2| 10.4|-| Mike Muscala| 43| 0| 13.8| 45.6%| 42.9%| 84.2%| 3.0| 0.5| 0.4| 0.6| 8.0|-| Aleksej Pokuševski| 61| 12| 20.2| 40.8%| 28.9%| 70.0%| 5.2| 2.1| 0.6| 0.6| 7.6|-| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl| 49| 36| 22.2| 41.4%| 35.2%| 74.1%| 5.6| 1.0| 0.6| 0.3| 7.5|-| Isaiah Roby| 45| 28| 21.1| 51.4%| 44.4%| 67.2%| 4.8| 1.6| 0.8| 0.8| 10.1|-| Olivier Sarr ^≠| 22| 2| 19.1| style=";" | 57.4%| 44.8%| 82.8%| 4.2| 0.9| 0.3| 0.7| 7.0|-| Zavier Simpson ^≠| 4| 4| style=";" | 43.5| 36.5%| 12.5%| style=";" | 100%| 5.3| style=";" | 7.5| 1.3| style=";" | 1.0| 11.0|-| Lindy Waters III ^≠| 25| 1| 18.6| 40.6%| 36.3%| 80.0%| 2.9| 1.0| 0.8| 0.3| 8.0|-| Paul Watson Jr. ^‡| 9| 3| 17.3| 34.4%| 23.1%| 50.0%| 3.0| 0.9| 0.3| 0.3| 3.4|-| Aaron Wiggins| 50| 35| 24.2| 46.3%| 30.4%| 72.9%| 3.6| 1.4| 0.6| 0.2| 8.3|-| Kenrich Williams| 49| 0| 21.9| 46.1%| 33.9%| 54.5%| 4.5| 2.2| 0.9| 0.2| 7.4|-|}

Led team in statisticAfter all games.^[27]
‡ Waived during the season
^† Traded during the season
^≠ Acquired during the season

Individual game highs

Category	Player	Statistic
Points	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	39 vs Rockets on December 1, 2021
Rebounds	Jaylen Hoard	21 vs Trail Blazers on April 5, 2022
Assists	Josh Giddey Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	14 vs Mavericks on January 2, 2022 14 vs Bucks on March 8, 2022
Steals	Josh Giddey Darius Bazley Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Kenrich Williams Kenrich Williams Luguentz Dort Josh Giddey Kenrich Williams Aleksej Pokuševski Tre Mann Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	4 vs 76ers on October 24, 2021 4 vs Lakers on October 27, 2021 4 vs Rockets on November 17, 2021 4 vs Pistons on December 6, 2021 4 vs Raptors on December 8, 2021 4 vs Pelicans on December 26, 2021 4 vs Mavericks on January 2, 2022 4 vs Timberwolves on January 5, 2022 4 vs Raptors on February 9, 2022 4 vs Suns on February 24, 2022 4 vs Jazz on March 6, 2022
Blocks	Isaiah Roby	6 vs Trail Blazers on April 5, 2022
Minutes	Georgios Kalaitzakis	48:00 vs Clippers on April 10, 2022

Category	Player	Statistic
Field Goals Made	Luguentz Dort Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	14 vs Rockets on November 17, 2021 14 vs Timberwolves on March 4, 2022 14 vs Spurs on March 16, 2022
Threes Made	Tre Mann Lindy Waters III	7 vs Celtics on March 21, 2022 7 vs Hawks on March 30, 2022
Free Throws Made	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	14 vs Rockets on December 1, 2021 14 vs Kings on December 28, 2021
Double-Doubles	Josh Giddey	16
Triple-Doubles	Josh Giddey	4

Awards and records

Awards

Date	Player	Award
December 2, 2021	Josh Giddey (1/4)[28]	October/November Rookie of the Month
December 27, 2021	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1/1)[29]	December 20–26 Player of the Week
January 4, 2022	Josh Giddey (2/4)[30]	December Rookie of the Month
February 2, 2022	Josh Giddey (3/4)[31]	January Rookie of the Month
March 3, 2022	Josh Giddey (4/4)[32]	February Rookie of the Month
May 18, 2022	Josh Giddey[33]	NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Records

• On December 2, 2021, the Oklahoma City Thunder took a 73-point loss against the Memphis Grizzlies setting an NBA-record for the worst margin of loss in history.^[34]
• On December 27, 2021, Josh Giddey became the second player in NBA history to record a double-double while also going scoreless (Norm Van Lier).^[35]
• On January 2, 2022, Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists at 19 years and 84 days, surpassing the record set by LaMelo Ball last season.^[36] Giddey also became the youngest player in NBA history to lead all players in points, rebounds, and assists in one game, becoming the second teenager to do so along with Luka Dončić.^[37]
• On February 14, 2022, Giddey became the 7th rookie in NBA history to record back-to-back triple-doubles following a triple-double in Chicago the prior day. Giddey also became the third rookie to record a triple-double in his Madison Square Garden debut.^[38]
• On February 16, 2022, Giddey, 19, joined Oscar Robertson as the only rookies in league history to record three consecutive triple-doubles.^[39]
• On March 21, 2022, Tre Mann set a Thunder rookie record with 35 points on 13-20 shooting, 7 threes. Mann scored 23 of his 35 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting in a single quarter marking the new Thunder rookie record for points in a quarter.^[40]
• On March 28, 2022, all five Thunder starters made two or more 3-pointers for the first time in OKC history.^[41]
• On April 1, 2022, Jaylen Hoard became the sixth Thunder player to record a 20-rebound game.^[42]
• On April 3, 2022, Aleksej Pokuševski became the 12th youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists at 20 years and 98 days old.^[43]
• On April 5, 2022, Hoard became the seventh player in OKC history to post a 20-point, 20-rebound game and the fifth to record multiple 20-rebound performances.^[44]

Transactions

See main article: article and List of 2021–22 NBA season transactions.

Overview

Players Added Via draft Josh Giddey Tre Mann Aaron Wiggins Via trade Derrick Favors Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Via free agency Vít Krejčí Paul Watson Jr.	Players Lost Via trade Moses Brown Al Horford Via free agency Tony Bradley Svi Mykhailiuk <	--Via retirement-->Waived Charlie Brown Jr. Josh Hall

Trades

June 18, 2021[45]	To Oklahoma City Thunder Kemba Walker 2021 first-round pick 2025 second-round pick	To Boston Celtics Al Horford Moses Brown 2023 second-round pick
July 30, 2021[46]	To Oklahoma City Thunder Draft rights to Jeremiah Robinson-Earl	To New York Knicks Draft rights to Rokas Jokubaitis Draft rights to Miles McBride
July 30, 2021	To Oklahoma City Thunder 2022 DET protected first-round pick 2023 WAS protected first-round pick	To Houston Rockets Draft rights to Alperen Şengün
July 30, 2021[47]	To Oklahoma City Thunder Derrick Favors 2024 protected first-round pick	To Utah Jazz 2027 second-round pick Cash considerations
January 4, 2022[48]	To Oklahoma City Thunder Miye Oni 2028 second-round pick	To Utah Jazz Cash considerations
February 9, 2022[49]	To Oklahoma City Thunder KZ Okpala Amendments conditions on a previously traded first-round pick	To Miami Heat 2026 second-round pick

Free agency

Re-signed

Date	Player	Contract
August 6, 2021	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Multi-Year Extension
August 11, 2021	Mike Muscala	Multi-Year
August 18, 2021	Josh Hall	Two-Way
In-Season Re-Signings
February 12, 2022	Aaron Wiggins[50]	Multi-Year

Additions

Date	Player	Contract	Former team
September 3, 2021	Vít Krejčí	Standard	Basket Zaragoza
September 15, 2021	Paul Watson Jr.	Two-Way	Toronto Raptors
In-Season Additions
December 27, 2021	Rob Edwards[51]	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
December 27, 2021	Scotty Hopson	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
December 27, 2021	Olivier Sarr	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
December 29, 2021	Jaylen Hoard[52]	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
January 9, 2022	Olivier Sarr[53]	Second 10-Day	Oklahoma City Thunder
January 11, 2022	Mamadi Diakite[54]	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Milwaukee Bucks
January 21, 2022	Mamadi Diakite[55]	10-Day	Oklahoma City Thunder
January 31, 2022	Mamadi Diakite[56]	Second 10-Day	Oklahoma City Thunder
February 10, 2022	Lindy Waters III[57]	Two-Way	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
February 21, 2022	Olivier Sarr[58]	Two-Way	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
April 1, 2022	Jaylen Hoard[59]	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
April 5, 2022	Georgios Kalaitzakis[60]	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
April 5, 2022	Zavier Simpson	Hardship Exception 10-Day	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)
April 6, 2022	Melvin Frazier Jr.[61]	Two-Way	Iowa Wolves (G League)

Subtractions

Date	Player	Reason left	New team
August 6, 2021	Kemba Walker[62]	Waived	New York Knicks
August 19, 2021	Tony Bradley	Free Agent	Chicago Bulls
September 1, 2021	Svi Mykhailiuk	Free Agent	Toronto Raptors
September 12, 2021	Josh Hall	Waived	Raptors 905 (G League)
September 26, 2021	Charlie Brown Jr.[63]	Waived	Delaware Blue Coats (G League)
In-Season Subtractions
January 4, 2022	Gabriel Deck[64]	Waived	Real Madrid
January 7, 2022	Miye Oni[65]	Waived	London Lions
February 9, 2022	Mamadi Diakite[66]	Waived	Cleveland Cavaliers
February 10, 2022	Paul Watson Jr.[67]	Waived	Austin Spurs (G League)
February 11, 2022	KZ Okpala[68]	Waived	Sacramento Kings
April 6, 2022	Olivier Sarr	Waived	Oklahoma City Blue (G League)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Thunder Season Review: Uncertainty and Low Expectations to Start Season. si.com. May 18, 2021. May 18, 2021.
2. Web site: Oklahoma City Thunder Statements. nba.com. March 27, 2021. March 27, 2021.
3. Web site: Pacers vs Thunder - May 1, 2021. nba.com. May 1, 2021. May 1, 2021.
4. Web site: 2021 NBA Draft. nba.com.
5. Web site: Thunder Acquires Kemba Walker, 2021 First-Round Draft Pick and 2025 Second-Round Pick. NBA.com. June 18, 2021. June 18, 2021.
6. Web site: Thunder Acquires Gilgeous-Alexander, Gallinari and Five First-Round Draft Picks. nba.com. November 12, 2022. July 10, 2019.
7. Web site: Thunder Acquires First and Second-Round Draft Picks. nba.com. November 12, 2022. November 22, 2020.
8. Web site: Thunder Drafts Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins in the 2021 NBA Draft. nba.com. December 24, 2022. July 30, 2021.
9. Web site: Thunder Drafts Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins in the 2021 NBA Draft. nba.com. December 24, 2022. July 30, 2021.
10. Web site: Priority on the People: Thunder Proud to Introduce 2021 Draft Class. nba.com. December 24, 2022. July 31, 2021.
11. Web site: Thunder Acquires Kemba Walker, 2021 First-Round Draft Pick and 2025 Second-Round Pick. NBA.com. June 18, 2021. June 18, 2021.
12. Web site: Thunder Waives Kemba Walker. nba.com. September 29, 2021. August 6, 2021.
13. Web site: Kemba Walker gave up $20M total in his buyout/waiver with the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell @spotrac. twitter.com. December 24, 2022. August 9, 2021.
14. Web site: Thunder Acquires Derrick Favors and Future First-Round Draft Pick. nba.com. December 24, 2022. July 30, 2021.
15. Web site: Thunder Signs Mike Muscala. NBA.com. September 29, 2021. August 12, 2021.
16. Web site: Free agent F Mike Muscala has agreed on a two-year, $7M deal to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder, his agent Sean Kennedy of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.. twitter.com. December 24, 2022. August 2, 2021.
17. Web site: Josh Hall has accepted his two-way qualifying offer, per the Thunder.. twitter.com. August 18, 2021. August 18, 2021.
18. Web site: Thunder Waives Josh Hall. NBA.com. September 12, 2021. September 12, 2021.
19. Web site: Bulls sign free agents Bradley, Green, and Dotson. NBA.com. October 4, 2021. August 19, 2021.
20. Web site: Svi Mykhailiuk’s deal with the Raptors is two years, $3.6 million, sources told @hoopshype. The deal has a player option in the second season as @ShamsCharania noted. Several teams were interested in Mykhailiuk. He’ll have a chance to be an unrestricted free agent next summer.. twitter.com. September 1, 2021. September 1, 2021.
21. Web site: Thunder Signs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Multi-Year Contract Extension. NBA.com. September 29, 2021. August 6, 2021.
22. Web site: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a five-year, $172 million maximum rookie contract extension, his agent Thaddeus Foucher of @Wasserman tells ESPN.. nba.com. December 24, 2022. August 2, 2021.
23. Web site: Thunder Signs Vít Krejčí. NBA.com. September 29, 2021. September 2, 2021.
24. Web site: Thunder Signs Paul Watson Jr.. NBA.com. September 15, 2021. September 15, 2021.
25. Web site: Thunder Claims Mamadi Diakite. nba.com. September 26, 2021. September 26, 2021.
26. Web site: Nick Collison To Take On New Role In Thunder Front Office. nba.com. December 24, 2022. August 10, 2021.
27. Web site: 2021-22 Oklahoma City Thunder Roster and Stats. basketball-reference.com. February 17, 2021.
28. Web site: Josh Giddey Named Rookie of the Month Extension. NBA.com. February 13, 2022. December 2, 2021.
29. Web site: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kemba Walker named NBA Players of the Week Extension. NBA.com. February 13, 2022. December 27, 2021.
30. Web site: Josh Giddey Named December Rookie of the Month Extension. NBA.com. February 13, 2022. January 4, 2022.
31. Web site: Josh Giddey Named December Rookie of the Month Extension. NBA.com. February 13, 2022. February 2, 2022.
32. Web site: Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey named NBA Rookies of the Month for February. NBA.com. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022.
33. Web site: SCOTTIE BARNES, CADE CUNNINGHAM, EVAN MOBLEY LEAD 2021-22 KIA NBA ALL-ROOKIE 1ST TEAM. NBA.com. May 18, 2022. May 18, 2022.
34. Web site: Grizzlies set NBA record with 73-point victory over Thunder. NBA.com. December 2, 2021. December 2, 2021.
35. Web site: Quinn. Sam. December 27, 2021. Thunder's Josh Giddey posts scoreless double-double, becoming second NBA player in history to do so. January 4, 2022. CBS Sports.
36. Web site: Kaskey-Blomain. Michael. January 3, 2022. Thunder rookie Josh Giddey becomes youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. January 4, 2022. CBS Sports.
37. Web site: Singh. Raahib. January 3, 2022. 'Josh Giddey becomes the youngest since Luka Doncic to achieve this huge feat!': The Thunder rookie becomes only the second teenager to lead the game in points, rebounds, and assist in a single game. January 4, 2022. The SportsRush.
38. Web site: Josh Giddey notches third triple double as Thunder top Knicks in OT. ESPN.com. February 14, 2022. February 14, 2022.
39. Web site: Josh Giddey notches third triple double as Thunder top Knicks in OT. ESPN.com. February 17, 2022. February 17, 2022.
40. Web site: Game Recap: Thunder vs. Celtics. NBA.com. March 21, 2022. March 21, 2022.
41. Web site: Thunder Victorious in OT. NBA.com. March 29, 2022. March 29, 2022.
42. Web site: Game Recap: Thunder vs. Pistons. NBA.com. April 1, 2022. April 1, 2022.
43. Web site: Balanced Thunder Outpaces Suns. NBA.com. April 3, 2022. April 3, 2022.
44. Web site: Thunder Wins on Fourth-Quarter Rally. NBA.com. April 6, 2022. April 5, 2022.
45. Web site: Thunder Acquires Kemba Walker, 2021 First-Round Draft Pick and 2025 Second-Round Pick. NBA.com. June 18, 2021. June 18, 2021.
46. Web site: Thunder Drafts Josh Giddey, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins in the 2021 NBA Draft. NBA.com. July 31, 2021. July 30, 2021.
47. Web site: Thunder Acquires Derrick Favors and Future First-Round Draft Pick. NBA.com. July 31, 2021. July 30, 2021.
48. Web site: Thunder Acquires Miye Oni and 2028 Second-Round Draft Pick. NBA.com. January 4, 2022. January 4, 2022.
49. Web site: Thunder Acquires KZ Okpala and Amends Conditions of First Round Pick. NBA.com. February 9, 2022. February 9, 2022.
50. Web site: Thunder Signs Aaron Wiggins to Multi-Year Contract. NBA.com. February 12, 2022. February 12, 2022.
51. Web site: Thunder Signs Three Players. NBA.com. December 27, 2021. December 27, 2021.
52. Web site: Thunder Signs Jaylen Hoard to 10-Day Contract. NBA.com. December 29, 2021. December 29, 2021.
53. Web site: Thunder Signs Olivier Sarr to Second 10-Day Contract. NBA.com. January 9, 2022. January 9, 2022.
54. Web site: Thunder Signs Mamadi Diakite to 10-Day Contract. NBA.com. January 11, 2022. January 11, 2022.
55. Web site: Thunder Signs Mamadi Diakite to 10-Day Contract. NBA.com. January 21, 2022. January 21, 2022.
56. Web site: Thunder Signs Mamadi Diakite to 10-Day Contract. NBA.com. January 31, 2022. January 31, 2022.
57. Web site: Thunder Signs Lindy Waters III to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. February 10, 2022. February 10, 2022.
58. Web site: Thunder Signs Olivier Sarr to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. February 21, 2022. February 21, 2022.
59. Web site: Thunder Signs Jaylen Hoard to 10-Day Contract. NBA.com. April 1, 2022. April 1, 2022.
60. Web site: Thunder Signs Georgios Kalaitzakis and Zavier Simpson to 10-Day Contracts. NBA.com. April 5, 2022. April 5, 2022.
61. Web site: Thunder Signs Melvin Frazier Jr. to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. April 6, 2022. April 6, 2022.
62. Web site: Thunder Waives Kemba Walker. NBA.com. September 29, 2021. August 6, 2021.
63. Web site: Thunder Claims Mamadi Diakite. NBA.com. September 26, 2021. September 26, 2021.
64. Web site: Thunder Acquires Miye Oni and 2028 Second-Round Draft Pick. NBA.com. January 4, 2022. January 4, 2022.
65. Web site: Thunder Waives Oni. NBA.com. January 7, 2022. January 7, 2022.
66. Web site: Thunder Acquires KZ Okpala and Amends Conditions of First Round Pick. NBA.com. February 9, 2022. February 9, 2022.
67. Web site: Thunder Signs Lindy Waters III to Two-Way Contract. NBA.com. February 10, 2022. February 10, 2022.
68. Web site: Thunder Waives KZ Okpala. NBA.com. February 11, 2022. February 11, 2022.