The2017–18 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 10th season of the franchise inOklahoma City and the 52nd in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). This season was headlined by the acquisitions ofAll-Star playersPaul George andCarmelo Anthony in trades with theIndiana Pacers andNew York Knicks respectively, in addition to the reigning MVPRussell Westbrook signing a five-year extension worth $205 million. The trio was dubbed the "Big Three" as well as "OK3".[1] The Thunder clinched their playoff berth for the eight time in the last nine seasons with a win over theMiami Heat in a rematch of the2012 Finals on April 9, 2018.
They finished the regular season with 48–34, which clinched the 4th seed. In the playoffs, the Thunder faced the 5th seededUtah Jazz in the First Round, a team led by rookieDonovan Mitchell, and lost in six games.
After averaging a then-career low 16.2 points per game during the season, Anthony was traded to theAtlanta Hawks in the offseason, ending the Thunder's Big Three experiment.[2] The season also marked the end of long-time veteranNick Collison's career, after 14 years. Sometimes referred to as "Mr. Thunder", Collison appeared once in the finals (2012), and following his retirement, became the only player from the2003 draft to play their entire career with the team that drafted them, and it also leftJeff Green of theCleveland Cavaliers andKevin Durant of theGolden State Warriors as the last remaining active players who played for the then-Seattle SuperSonics, withMark Bryant andSam Presti being the last remaining staff members that have been with the Thunder since the Sonics' final season in2007–08.
TheThunder finished the2016–17 season 47–35 to finish in second place in the Northwest Division, sixth in the Western Conference and qualified for theplayoffs. Last season featuredRussell Westbrook breakingOscar Robertson's record for most triple doubles in a season with 42.[3] Westbrook was later named the 2016-17 NBA Most Valuable Player. Westbrook earned MVP honors after joining Oscar Roberson as the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double. Westbrook registered a league-best 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds (10th in the NBA), 10.4 assists (third in the NBA) and 1.63 steals in 34.6 minutes per game.[4]
On July 6, the Thunder tradedVictor Oladipo andDomantas Sabonis to theIndiana Pacers in exchange forPaul George.[8] George was traded by the Pacers after rumors of George wanting to leave in free agency for theLos Angeles Lakers. The Thunder decided to trade and gamble that a season with George on the roster will entice him to re-sign long term.[9] George came to the Thunder as a four-time All Star, winner of the2012–13 season Most Improved Player Award, All-NBA Third team honors three times, NBA All-Defensive First Team once and All-Defensive Second team twice.
On September 25, the Thunder tradedEnes Kanter,Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick via CHI to theNew York Knicks in exchange forCarmelo Anthony.[10] Anthony had been the focal point of intense trade speculation throughout the offseason while owning a no-trade clause in his contract.[11] BothRussell Westbrook andPaul George "played an immense part" in convincing Anthony to waive his no-trade clause to join the Thunder.[12] Anthony came to the Thunder as a 10-time All Star, All-NBA Second team honors two times, All-NBA Third team honors four times and a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
For this offseason, free agency began on July 1, 2017, while the July moratorium ended on July 6.Norris Cole,Nick Collison andTaj Gibson were set to hit unrestricted free agency whileAndre Roberson was set to hit restricted free agency. On July 2, it was reported thatTaj Gibson agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with theMinnesota Timberwolves, which he later signed on July 10.[13][14] On July 5, it was reported thatAndre Roberson agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract extension to stay with the Thunder, which he later signed on July 14.[15][16] On July 21,Nick Collison agreed to a new contract to stay with the Thunder.Sam Presti called Collison "one of the founding members of our organization and culture, it goes without saying that he has helped set internal standards and built a legacy that Thunder fans will remain indebted to for years to come."[17] Cole, who was not re-signed, signed a one-year deal with the Israeli teamMaccabi Tel Aviv of theEuroLeague.[18]
Starting in the2017–18 season, each team is allowed two players on two-way contracts, in addition to the standard 15 players on the roster. On August 3,Daniel Hamilton signed atwo-way contract with the Thunder, splitting time with the Thunder and theOklahoma City Blue. Hamilton spent the2016-17 season with the Blue.[24] To fill in the other slot,PJ Dozier signed a two-way contract with the Thunder on October 17. Dozier came undrafted out ofSouth Carolina.[25]
On October 14,Semaj Christon was waived by the Thunder as his $1.3 million salary would have become fully guaranteed for the season. The Thunder opted for 14 guaranteed roster spots rather than 15.[26][27]
On September 29,Russell Westbrook agreed to a five-year, $205 million contract extension with the Thunder.[28] Westbrook's deal was the biggest guaranteed contract at the time in 2017.[29]
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, there is no place I would rather be than Oklahoma City. I am so honored to have the opportunity to continue my career here with the Thunder. From day one the support that Mr. Bennett, Sam, Troy and the entire organization have given me and my family has been incredible, and we are so grateful. When you play in Oklahoma City you play in front of the best fans in the world, I’m looking forward to bringing everything I’ve got, for them, this city and for this organization. WHY NOT?[30]
On May 15, Thunder assistantAnthony Grant was hired as the head coach of theDayton Flyers. Coming over whenBilly Donovan was hired, Grant served as an assistant coach for the Thunder for two seasons.[31]
On October 2, the Thunder announcedRob Hennigan as Vice President of Insight & Foresight. Hennigan rejoins the Thunder after serving as the general manager of theOrlando Magic for five seasons.[32]
^Westbrook helped lead the Thunder to a perfect 4-0 week while posting averages of 29.8 points on .598 percent shooting (49-82 FGs) to go along with 9.0 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 2.50 steals in 34.5 minutes. Westbrook’s triple-double on Dec. 23 at Utah represented the 11th of the season (OKC 9-2 in those games) and the 90th of his career.
^The reigning NBA MVP led Oklahoma City to a 12-5 record in December, third-best in the league, while averaging a triple-double of 27.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 10.6 assists. He also accumulated the most points (472), assists (181) and steals (31) of any NBA player last month while holding the highest assist percentage (.497) and most fast break points per game (5.8).
^A two-time NBA All-Star game MVP, Westbrook is now scheduled to make his seventh career All-Star appearance.
^George is slated to make his fifth All-Star appearance, joining teammate Russell Westbrook on Team LeBron, replacing New Orleans’ DeMarcus Cousins.
^The reigning NBA MVP led Oklahoma City to a 4-0 week as the Thunder has now won six consecutive games overall after last night’s victory in Toronto over the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors. Westbrook registered a triple-double in each contest this past week while averaging 25.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 12.0 assists on .526 (41-78 FGs) shooting from the field.
^This is Westbrook’s 7th selection to the All-NBA team in his career, commemorating yet another historic season in which Westbrook rose to fourth on the all-time triple-doubles list and averaged a triple-double for the season. One year after becoming just the second player besides Oscar Robertson to ever achieve that milestone, Westbrook finished with an average of 25.4 points, 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game while helping get a brand new group of teammates together to land the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Westbrook also became the Thunder’s all-time leader in total points scored and led the NBA in assists per game this past season.
^In his first season in Oklahoma City, Paul George made his 4th career All-NBA team by averaging 21.9 points (the third most in his career) while shooting 40.1 percent from 3-point range (the second-best mark in his career). George made more three pointers in 2017-18 (244) than any other season in his career, while also providing his impressive, high-IQ defense. Finishing 2nd in the NBA in steals helped him receive 22 First Team votes and finishing 12th in voting totals for the All-Defensive Team.
United States
Adelaide 36ers (NBL)
South Carolina (NCAA)
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Guangzhou Long-Lions
