| Team: | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| End Year: | 2021 |
| Wins: | 22 |
| Losses: | 50 |
| Division: | Northwest |
| Division Place: | 5 |
| Conf Place: | 14 |
| Coach: | Mark Daigneault |
| Gm: | Sam Presti |
| Owners: | Professional Basketball Club LLC Clay Bennett (Chairman) |
| Arena: | Chesapeake Energy Arena |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Bbr Team: | OKC |
| Television: | Bally Sports Oklahoma |
| Radio: | KWPN and WWLS-FM |
The 2020–21 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 13th season of the franchise in Oklahoma City and the 55th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This is the first season since 2014–15 without head coach Billy Donovan, as he mutually agreed to part ways with the Thunder on September 8, 2020, and 14 days later, went on to become the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls.[1] For the first time since 2012–13, long-time players Steven Adams and André Roberson were not on the roster, as Adams was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, and Roberson signed with the Brooklyn Nets.
On November 11, the Thunder promoted assistant and former Oklahoma City Blue coach Mark Daigneault as their new head coach. At the age of 35, Daigneault is currently the youngest active head coach in the NBA, after the Minnesota Timberwolves fired third-year head coach Ryan Saunders on February 21, 2021.[2]
The 2020–21 season was the team's first time since 2014–15 missing the playoffs and their first losing season since 2008–09, the team's inaugural season in Oklahoma City. It was also the fourth time under Sam Presti's tenure that the team had missed the playoffs. Power forward Al Horford, who was acquired by the Thunder via trade on December 8, 2020, also missed the playoffs for the first time in his 14-year career.
The Thunder finished the 2019–20 season 44–28 to finish in second place in the Northwest Division, fifth in the Western Conference and qualified for the playoffs.
After falling to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2019 NBA playoffs, the Thunder started a rebuilding process following the Paul George and Russell Westbrook trades. In the trades, the Thunder received veteran Chris Paul, promising rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and seven future first-rounders and four pick swaps. Entering the season, the Thunder were predicted to win 32 games with a 33-49 record projected by ESPN. However, Chris Paul led a resurgence season that featured an All-Star birth and led the Thunder to a 44-28 record.[3]
| Record | Seeding | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 48–34 | 4th | |
| 2018–19 | 49–33 | 6th | |
| 2019–20 | 44–28 | 5th |
In the bubble, the Thunder faced off against former Thunder Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets. During the series, undrafted rookie Luguentz Dort was lauded for his defense on James Harden. In game seven, Dort led the Thunder with a 30-point performance including six threes in a 104-102 loss.[5]
See main article: article and 2020 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Immanuel Quickley | PG | Kentucky | ||
| 2 | 53 | Cassius Winston | PG | Michigan State | ||
On draft night, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Cassius Winston, the 53rd pick, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Admiral Schofield and the draft rights to Vít Krejčí, the 37th pick.[10] The Thunder also acquired the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels, the 28th pick, and Danny Green in the Dennis Schroder.[11]
Two days later, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Immanuel Quickley, the 25th pick, to the New York Knicks, and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels, the 28th pick, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team trade where the Thunder acquired the draft rights to Aleksej Pokuševski, the 17th pick, James Johnson, and a 2024 second-round pick via MIN.[12] On December 8, the Thunder acquired the draft rights to Théo Maledon, the 34th pick, draft rights to Vasilije Micić, Al Horford and a 2025 first-round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers.[13]
The Thunder, after the 2020 NBA draft night and the conclusion of player acquisitions and transactions, ended with Olympiacos forward Aleksej Pokuševski, ASVEL Villerbaunne guard Théo Maledon, and Casademont Zaragoza guard Vít Krejčí.[14] [15]
The Thunder started this offseason to reposition and rebuild for the future after a surprising 2019-20 season that saw a playoff appearance following the trades of Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
On November 16, the Thunder traded All-Star Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio and a 2022 first-round pick.[16] Paul had a resurgent season during the 2019-20 season, reclaiming his reputation as "Point God," taking the Thunder to a surprising playoff appearance in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. The Thunder began the season with a "0.2%" chance to make the playoffs prior to the start of the season. Paul was named an All-Star and was named to All-NBA Second Team for the first time since 2016. Sam Presti worked with Paul's representatives at CAA to allow Paul to his preferred destination.[17]
On draft night November 18, the Thunder traded Dennis Schröder to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Danny Green and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels, the twenty-eighth pick. Schröder led the league in points scored off the bench and finished second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting.[18] A day later on November 19, the Thunder traded a protected 2021 second-round pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Vincent Poirier in an effort to use his salary in a bigger trade.[19] [20] The same day, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Cassius Winston, the fifty-third pick, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for the draft rights to Vít Krejčí and Admiral Schofield.[21] On December 18, the Thunder waived Admiral Schofield.[22] Two days later on November 20, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels and Ricky Rubio to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three team trade, for the draft rights to Aleksej Pokuševski, the seventeenth pick, James Johnson and a 2024 second-round pick. The Thunder also traded the draft rights to Immanuel Quickley, the twenty-fifth pick, to the New York Knicks as part of the three team trade.[23]
On November 22, the Thunder traded Kelly Oubre Jr., originally acquired from the Suns, to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a protected 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick via DEN.[24] The first-round pick acquired was top-20 protected by Golden State and will be converted into two second-round picks if not conveyed.[25] On November 24, the Thunder traded Steven Adams to the New Orleans Pelicans in a four team trade, for George Hill from Milwaukee, Zylan Cheatham from New Orleans, Josh Gray from New Orleans, Darius Miller from New Orleans, Kenrich Williams from New Orleans, a 2023 first-round pick from Denver, a 2023 second-round pick (via WAS) from New Orleans and a 2024 second-round pick (via CHA) from New Orleans.[26] The Thunder also generated a trade exception worth $27.5 million, the largest in NBA history to date.[27] Adams was the longest tenured player on the roster since being drafted back in 2013. On December 1 and December 2, the Thunder waived Josh Gray and Zylan Cheatham.[28] [29] The same day on November 24, the Thunder signed-and-traded Danilo Gallinari and cash considerations to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for a protected 2025 second-round pick while generating another trade exception worth $19.5 million.[30] [31] On November 25, the Thunder traded Jalen Lecque, originally acquired from the Suns, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for T. J. Leaf and a 2027 second-round pick.[32] On December 18, the Thunder waived T. J. Leaf.[33] On November 27, the Thunder traded James Johnson, originally acquired from the Timberwolves in a three team trade, for Trevor Ariza from Detroit, Justin Jackson from Dallas, a 2023 second-round pick (best of DAL or MIA) from Dallas and a 2026 second-round pick from Dallas.[34] Ariza would never report to the Thunder while attending to personal issues that kept him out of the 2020 NBA Playoffs.[35]
On December 8, the Thunder traded Terrance Ferguson, Danny Green, originally acquired from the Lakers, and Vincent Poirier, originally acquired from the Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Al Horford, the draft rights to Théo Maledon, the thirty-fourth pick, the draft rights to Vasilije Micić, the fifty-second pick in the 2014 NBA draft, and a 2025 first-round pick.[36] Horford, who signed a four-year, $109 million deal, did not fit with Joel Embiid saw his role diminished and was eventually removed from the starting lineup. Micic was a second-round pick in 2014 was named to a second-team All-EuroLeague selection in 2019.
At the end of offseason, the Thunder accumulated 17 first-round picks through the 2026 NBA draft.[37]
See main article: List of 2020–21 NBA season transactions. For this offseason, free agency began on November 20, 2020, while the moratorium ended on November 22. Deonte Burton, Danilo Gallinari, Devon Hall, Kevin Hervey, Nerlens Noel and Andre Roberson were set to hit free agency. On September 21, Kevin Hervey signed a contract with the Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League.[38] Hervey was originally set to reach free agency in fall but the Thunder let him out of his contract early to be lined up with an international team.[39] On November 20, it was reported that Danilo Gallinari agreed to a three-year, $61.5 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, which he later signed on November 24.[40] The Thunder negotiated a sign-and-trade deal to acquire a protected 2025 second-round pick and generating a trade exception.[41] On November 21, it was reported that Nerlens Noel agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Knicks, which he later signed on November 25.[42] Burton, Hall and Roberson who were not re-signed, joined the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, Brose Bamberg and the Brooklyn Nets respectively.
On December 9, Moses Brown and Josh Hall both signed a two-way contract with the Thunder, splitting time with the Thunder and the Oklahoma City Blue. Brown spent the 2019-20 season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Hall came undrafted out of Moravian Prep high school out of Hudson, North Carolina.[43]
After the Thunder's defeat in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, head coach Billy Donovan and the Thunder mutually agreed to part ways on September 8, 2020, after five seasons with the team. Donovan was named head coach of the Thunder on April 30, 2015, taking over for Scott Brooks after the 2014-15 season. Donovan accumulated a 243-157 (.608) record with playoff appearances in each season, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs.[44] Donovan was also named co-recipient of the 2020 NBCA Coach of the Year.[45]
On November 11, the Thunder hired Mark Daigneault, an assistant since last season, as head coach. Daigneault became the fourth head coach of the Thunder since moving to Oklahoma City. Daigneault spent five seasons as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue accumulating three consecutive division titles and four playoff appearances including a franchise-record 34 wins.[46]
On November 25, the Thunder announced Mike Wilks, Dave Bliss, David Akinyooye, Mike Miller as assistant coaches and Zach Peterson and Kameron Woods as player development coaches. Miller joins the Thunder after serving as interim head coach of the New York Knicks. Woods joins the Thunder after serving two seasons as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue.[47]
|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| December 12| @ San Antonio | | Theo Maledon (20)| Isaiah Roby (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4)| AT&T Center
No In-Person Attendance| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| December 16| Chicago | | Horford & Jackson (15)| Al Horford (7)| Gilgeous-Alexander & Roby (3)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
No In-Person Attendance| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| December 18| Chicago| | Al Horford (17)| Aleksej Pokuševski (13)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
No In-Person Attendance| 1–2
|-style="background:#cccc;"| -| December 23| @ Houston| colspan="6" | Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: March 21)|-style="background:#cfc;"| 1| December 26| @ Charlotte| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24)| Al Horford (13)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Spectrum Center
0| 1–0|-style="background:#fbb;"| 2| December 28| Utah| | Luguentz Dort (26)| Darius Bazley (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 1–1|-style="background:#fbb;"| 3| December 29| Orlando| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23)| Hamidou Diallo (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 1–2|- style="background:#fbb;"| 4| December 31| New Orleans| | Al Horford (17)| Roby & Al Horford (6)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Hill & Pokusevski (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 1–3|-style="background:#cfc;"| 5| January 2| @ Orlando| | Darius Bazley (19)| Darius Bazley (12)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Amway Center
3,339| 2–3|-style="background:#fcc;"| 6| January 4| @ Miami| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18)| Darius Bazley (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4)| American Airlines Arena
0| 2–4|-style="background:#cfc;"| 7| January 6| @ New Orleans| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (21)| Darius Bazley (12)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Smoothie King Center
Limited Seating| 3–4|-style="background:#cfc;"| 8| January 8| @ New York| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25)| Hamidou Diallo (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Madison Square Garden
0| 4–4|-style="background:#cfc;"| 9| January 10| @ Brooklyn| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Horford (6)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Barclays Center
0| 5–4|-style="background:#fcc;"| 10| January 12| San Antonio| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| George Hill (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 5–5|-style="background:#fcc;"| 11| January 13| L. A. Lakers| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17)| Isaiah Roby (9)| Maledon, Roby, Williams (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 5–6|-style="background:#cfc;"| 12| January 15| Chicago| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Luguentz Dort (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 6–6|-style="background:#ccc;"| -| January 17| Philadelphia| colspan="6" | Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: April 10)[48] |-style="background:#fcc;"| 13| January 19| @ Denver| | Luguentz Dort (20)| Isaiah Roby (9)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Ball Arena
0| 6–7|-style="background:#fcc;"| 14| January 22| @ L. A. Clippers| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30)| Maledon & Hill (5)|Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| Staples Center
0| 6–8|-style="background:#fcc;"| 15| January 24| @ L. A. Clippers| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23)| Darius Bazley (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11)| Staples Center
0| 6–9|-style="background:#cfc;"| 16| January 25| @ Portland| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)|Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| Moda Center
0| 7–9|-style="background:#cfc;"| 17| January 27| @ Phoenix| | Horford & Gilgeous-Alexander (21)| Al Horford (11)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| PHX Arena
0| 8–9|-style="background:#fcc;"| 18| January 29| Brooklyn| | Gilgeous-Alexander & Maledon (24)| Al Horford (6)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 8–10|-style="background:#fcc;"| 19| February 1| Houston| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19)| Al Horford (7)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 8–11|-style="background:#cfc;"| 20| February 3| Houston| | Kenrich Williams (19)| Darius Bazley (12)| Theo Maledon (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 9–11|-style="background:#fcc;"| 21| February 5| Minnesota| | Al Horford (26)| Darius Bazley (10)| Hamidou Diallo (10)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 9–12|-style="background:#cfc;"| 22| February 6| Minnesota| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams (9)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 10–12|-style="background:#fcc;"| 23| February 8| @ L. A. Lakers| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29)| Darius Bazley (16)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10)| Staples Center
0| 10–13|-style="background:#fcc;"| 24| February 10| @ L. A. Lakers| | Al Horford (25)| Hamidou Diallo (13)| Al Horford (28)| Staples Center
0| 10–14|-style="background:#fcc;"| 25| February 12| @ Denver| | Justin Jackson (20)| Kenrich Williams (11)| Kenrich Williams (9)| Ball Arena
0| 10–15|-style="background:#cfc;"| 26| February 14| Milwaukee| | Al Horford (20)| Hamidou Diallo (13)| Al Horford (9)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 11–15|-style="background:#fcc;"| 27| February 16| Portland| | Luguentz Dort (23)| Isaiah Roby (10)| Darius Bazley (6)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 11–16|-style="background:#fcc;"| 28| February 17| @ Memphis| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22)| Isaiah Roby (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6)| FedEx Forum
0| 11–17|-style="background:#fcc;"| 29| February 19| @ Milwaukee| | Luguentz Dort (17)| Muscala, Roby (7)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Fiserv Forum
750| 11–18|-style="background:#cfc;"| 30| February 21| Cleveland| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)| Al Horford (8)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9)| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
2,720| 12–18|-style="background:#fcc;"| 31| February 22| Miami| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27)| Dort, Williams (7)| Gilgeous-Alexander, Maledon (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 12–19|-style="background:#cfc;"| 32| February 24| San Antonio| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (42)| Darius Bazley (10)| Al Horford (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 13–19|-style="background:#cfc;"| 33| February 26| Atlanta| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24)| Darius Bazley (12)| Theo Maledon (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 14–19|-style="background:#fcc;"| 34| February 27| Denver| | Darius Bazley (22)| Isaiah Roby (9)| Isaiah Roby (7)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 14–20|-style="background:#fcc;"| 35| March 3| Dallas| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15)| Darius Bazley (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (3)| American Airlines Center
3,508| 14–21|-style="background:#cfc;"| 36| March 4| @ San Antonio| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33)| Darius Bazley (10)| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8)| AT&T Center
1,000| 15–21|-style="background:#cfc;"| 37| March 11| Dallas| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32)| Moses Brown (12)| Theo Maledon (9)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 16–21|-style="background:#fcc;"| 38| March 13| New York| | Al Horford (16)| Moses Brown (9)| Dort & Jerome (9)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 16–22|-style="background:#cfc;"| 39| March 14| Memphis| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30)| Aleksej Pokusevski (10)| Jerome & Gilgeous-Alexander (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 17–22|-style="background:#fcc;"| 40| March 16| @ Chicago| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (21)| Moses Brown (16)| Kenrich Williams (4)| United Center
0| 17–23|-style="background:#fcc;"| 41| March 18| @ Atlanta| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19)| Isaiah Roby (8)| Theo Maledon (5)| State Farm Arena
2,621| 17–24|-style="background:#cfc;"| 42| March 21| @ Houston| | Luguentz Dort (23)| Moses Brown (14)| Ty Jerome (5)| Toyota Center
3,297| 18–24|-style="background:#cfc;"| 43| March 22| @ Minnesota| | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)| Moses Brown (18)| Ty Jerome (6)| Target Center
0| 19–24|-style="background:#fcc;"| 44| March 24| Memphis| | Moses Brown (19)| Moses Brown (12)| Al Horford (6)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 19–25|-style="background:#fcc;"| 45| March 27| Boston| | Theo Maledon (22)| Moses Brown (23)| Aleksej Pokuševski (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 19–26|-style="background:#fcc;"| 46| March 29| Dallas| | Aleksej Pokuševski (21)| Brown, Roby (9)| Ty Jerome (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 19–27|-style="background:#cfc;"| 47| March 31| Toronto| | Svi Mykhailiuk (22)| Moses Brown (12)| Theo Maledon (6)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–27|-style="background:#fcc;"| 48| April 2| @ Phoenix| | Theo Maledon (33)| Moses Brown (7)| Aleksej Pokuševski (4)| Phoenix Suns Arena
3,422| 20–28|-style="background:#fcc;"| 49| April 3| @ Portland| | Kenrich Williams (18)| Moses Brown (14)| Jerome & Pokuševski (4)| Moda Center
0| 20–29|-style="background:#fcc;"| 50| April 5| Detroit| | Aleksej Pokuševski (19)| Tony Bradley (9)| Ty Jerome (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–30|-style="background:#fcc;"| 51| April 7| Charlotte| | Jalen McDaniels (21)| Cody Zeller (14)| Brad Wanamaker (6)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–31|-style="background:#fcc;"| 52| April 8| Cleveland| | Ty Jerome (23)| Moses Brown(11)| Kenrich Williams (9)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–32|-style="background:#fcc;"| 53| April 10| Philadelphia| | Darius Bazley (17)| Tony Bradley (14)| Bazley, Jerome, Maledon (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–33|-style="background:#fcc;"| 54| April 13| @ Utah| | Luguentz Dort (42)| Moses Brown (15)| Luguentz Dort (3)| Vivint Arena
5,546| 20–34|-style="background:#fcc;"| 55| April 14| Golden State| | Darius Bazley (22)| Moses Brown (12)| Theo Maledon (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–35|-style="background:#fcc;"| 56| April 16| @ Detroit| | Luguentz Dort (26)| Moses Brown (8)| Kenrich Williams (4)| Little Caesars Arena
750| 20–36|-style="background:#fcc;"| 57| April 18| @ Toronto| | Luguentz Dort (29)| Bazley, Roby (8)| Ty Jerome (6)| Amalie Arena
Limited seating| 20–37|-style="background:#fcc;"| 58| April 19| @ Washington| | Darius Bazley (20)| Bazley, Maledon, Williams (7)| Maledon, Pokuševski (5)| Capital One Arena
0| 20–38|-style="background:#fcc;"| 59| April 21| @ Indiana| | Darius Bazley (26)| Moses Brown (11)| Theo Maledon (7)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
0| 20–39|-style="background:#fcc;"| 60| April 23| Washington| | Bazley, Maledon (20)| Dort, Roby (8)| Theo Maledon (8)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 20–40|-style="background:#fcc;"| 61| April 26| @ Philadelphia| | Ty Jerome (22)| Brown, Roby (8)| Aleksej Pokuševski (5)| Wells Fargo Center
4,094| 20–41|-style="background:#cfc;"| 62| April 27| @ Boston| | Luguentz Dort (24)| Darius Bazley (10)| Theo Maledon (5)| TD Garden
2,298| 21–41|-style="background:#fcc;"| 63| April 29| New Orleans| | Luguentz Dort (17)| Moses Brown (18)| Theo Maledon (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 21–42|-style="background:#fcc;"| 64| May 1| Indiana| | Moses Brown (16)| Gabriel Deck (5)| Hall, Williams (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 21–43|-style="background:#fcc;"| 65| May 2| Phoenix| | Darius Bazley (19)| Darius Bazley (9)| Ty Jerome (5)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 21–44|-style="background:#fcc;"| 66| May 4| Sacramento| | Darius Bazley (24)| Moses Brown (17)| Dort, Jerome (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 21–45|-style="background:#fcc;"| 67| May 6| @ Golden State| | Ty Jerome (23)| Moses Brown (8)| Theo Maledon (8)| Chase Center
3,621| 21–46|-style="background:#fcc;"| 68| May 8| @ Golden State| | Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (17)| Moses Brown (8)| Kenrich Williams (5)| Chase Center
4,155| 21–47|-style="background:#fcc;"| 69| May 9| @ Sacramento| | Darius Bazley (18)| Moses Brown (8)| Aleksej Pokuševski (5)| Golden 1 Center
0| 21–48|-style="background:#fcc;"| 70| May 11| @ Sacramento| | Kenrich Williams (20)| Moses Brown (13)| Hoard, Williams (4)| Golden 1 Center
0| 21–49|-style="background:#fcc;"| 71| May 14| Utah| | Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (19)| Aleksej Pokuševski (9)| Tony Bradley, Maledon (3)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 21–50|-style="background:#cfc;"| 72| May 16| L. A. Clippers| | Aleksej Pokuševski (29)| Moses Brown (18)| Theo Maledon (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
0| 22–50
|-| Darius Bazley| 55| style=";" | 55| 31.2| 39.6%| 29.0%| 70.2%| 7.2| 1.8| 0.5| 0.5| 13.7|-| Tony Bradley ≠| 22| 0| 18.0| style=";" | 65.6%| 0.0%| 70.5%| 6.1| 0.9| 0.4| 0.8| 8.7|-| Charlie Brown Jr. ≠| 9| 1| 16.9| 30.2%| 23.8%| 90.0%| 1.9| 1.0| 0.4| 0.2| 4.4|-| Moses Brown| 43| 32| 21.4| 54.5%| -| 61.9%| style=";" | 8.9| 0.2| 0.7| style=";" | 1.1| 8.6|-| Gabriel Deck ≠| 10| 0| 21.2| 47.8%| 13.3%| 81.8%| 4.0| 2.4| 0.8| 0.0| 8.4|-| Hamidou Diallo †| 32| 5| 23.8| 48.1%| 29.3%| 62.9%| 5.2| 2.4| style=";" | 1.0| 0.4| 11.9|-| Luguentz Dort| 52| 52| 29.7| 38.7%| 34.3%| 74.4%| 3.6| 1.7| 0.9| 0.4| 14.0|-| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander| 35| 35| style=";" | 33.7| 50.8%| 41.8%| 80.8%| 4.7| style=";" | 5.9| 0.8| 0.7| style=";" | 23.7|-| Josh Hall| 21| 1| 16.0| 30.3%| 10.8%| 50.0%| 2.8| 1.3| 0.2| 0.0| 4.1|-| George Hill †| 14| 14| 26.4| 50.8%| 38.6%| 84.0%| 2.1| 3.1| 0.9| 0.1| 11.8|-| Jaylen Hoard ≠| 19| 0| 16.8| 50.0%| 0.0%| 68.3%| 3.4| 1.3| 0.7| 0.3| 6.1|-| Al Horford| 28| 28| 27.9| 45.0%| 36.8%| 81.8%| 6.7| 3.4| 0.9| 0.9| 14.2|-| Justin Jackson ‡| 33| 3| 16.5| 40.6%| 30.6%| 85.7%| 2.2| 1.5| 0.5| 0.1| 7.2|-| Ty Jerome| 33| 1| 23.9| 44.6%| 42.3%| 76.5%| 2.8| 3.6| 0.6| 0.2| 10.7|-| Théo Maledon| 65| 49| 27.4| 36.8%| 33.5%| 74.8%| 3.2| 3.5| 0.9| 0.2| 10.1|-| Darius Miller ‡| 18| 0| 10.9| 45.8%| 40.5%| style=";" | 100%| 1.3| 1.2| 0.7| 0.3| 4.1|-| Mike Muscala| 35| 0| 18.4| 44.6%| 37.0%| 91.7%| 3.8| 0.8| 0.2| 0.3| 9.7|-| Svi Mykhailiuk ≠| 30| 9| 23.0| 43.8%| 33.6%| 70.0%| 3.0| 1.8| 0.8| 0.2| 10.3|-| Aleksej Pokuševski| 48| 28| 24.2| 34.1%| 28.0%| 73.8%| 4.7| 2.2| 0.4| 0.9| 8.2|-| Justin Robinson ≠| 9| 0| 9.8| 33.3%| 28.6%| 60.0%| 0.8| 1.0| 0.3| 0.0| 2.3|-| Isaiah Roby| 61| 34| 23.4| 48.3%| 29.4%| 74.4%| 5.6| 1.8| 0.9| 0.6| 8.7|-| Kenrich Williams| style=";" | 66| 13| 21.6| 53.3%| style=";" | 44.4%| 57.1%| 4.1| 2.3| 0.8| 0.3| 8.0|-|}
Led team in statisticAfter all games.[49]
‡ Waived during the season
† Traded during the season
≠ Acquired during the season
| Category | Player | Statistic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Luguentz Dort | 42 vs Spurs on February 24, 2021 42 vs Jazz on April 13, 2021 | |
| Rebounds | Moses Brown | 23 vs Celtics on March 27, 2021 | |
| Assists | Théo Maledon | 12 vs Hawks on February 26, 2021 | |
| Steals | Luguentz Dort Theo Maledon | 6 vs Bulls on January 15, 2021 6 vs Rockets on February 3, 2021 | |
| Blocks | Moses Brown | 7 vs Clippers on May 16, 2021 | |
| Minutes | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 43:31 vs Bulls on January 15, 2021 |
| Category | Player | Statistic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Goals Made | Luguentz Dort | 16 vs Jazz on April 13, 2021 | |
| Threes Made | Aleksej Pokuševski Luguentz Dort | 7 vs Hornets on April 7, 2021 7 vs Jazz on April 13, 2021 | |
| Free Throws Made | Darius Bazley Luguentz Dort | 11 vs Wizards on April 19, 2021 11 vs Celtics on April 27, 2021 | |
| Double-Doubles | Moses Brown | 12 | |
| Triple-Doubles | N/A | N/A |
See main article: article and List of 2020–21 NBA season transactions.
| Players Added < | --Via draft-->Via trade
Via free agency | Players Lost Via trade Via free agency < | --Via retirement--> |
|---|
| November 16, 2020[50] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Ty Jerome Jalen Lecque Kelly Oubre Jr. Ricky Rubio 2022 first-round pick | To Phoenix Suns Chris Paul Abdel Nader | |
| November 18, 2020[51] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Danny Green Draft rights to Jaden McDaniels | To Los Angeles Lakers Dennis Schröder | |
| November 19, 2020[52] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Vincent Poirier | To Boston Celtics Protected 2021-second round pick | |
| November 19, 2020[53] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Admiral Schofield Draft rights to Vít Krejčí | To Washington Wizards Draft rights to Cassius Winston 2024 second-round pick | |
| November 20, 2020[54] | To Oklahoma City Thunder James Johnson via MIN 2024 second-round pick via MIN Draft rights to Aleksej Pokuševski via MIN | To Minnesota Timberwolves Ricky Rubio via OKC 2020 first-round pick via NYK Draft rights to Jaden McDaniels via OKC | |
| To New York Knicks 2023 second-round pick via MIN Draft rights to Immanuel Quickley via OKC Draft rights to Mathias Lessort via MIN | |||
| November 22, 2020[55] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Protected 2021 first-round pick 2021 second-round pick via DEN | To Golden State Warriors Kelly Oubre Jr. | |
| November 24, 2020[56] | To Oklahoma City Thunder George Hill via MIL Zylan Cheatham via NOP Josh Gray via NOP Darius Miller via NOP Kenrich Williams via NOP 2023 protected first-round pick via DEN 2023 second-round pick via NOP (via WAS) 2024 second-round pick via NOP (via CHA) | To New Orleans Pelicans Steven Adams via OKC Eric Bledsoe via MIL 2024 first-round pick via MIL 2025 first-round pick via MIL 2026 first-round pick via MIL 2027 first-round pick via MIL | |
| To Denver Nuggets Draft rights to R. J. Hampton via MIL | To Milwaukee Bucks Jrue Holiday via NOP Draft rights to Sam Merrill via NOP | ||
| November 24, 2020[57] | To Oklahoma City Thunder 2025 second-round pick | To Atlanta Hawks Danilo Gallinari Cash considerations | |
| November 25, 2020[58] | To Oklahoma City Thunder T. J. Leaf 2027 second-round pick | To Indiana Pacers Jalen Lecque | |
| November 27, 2020[59] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Trevor Ariza via DET Justin Jackson via DAL 2023 second-round pick via DAL (best from either DAL or MIA) 2026 second-round pick via DAL | To Dallas Mavericks James Johnson via OKC | |
| To Detroit Pistons Delon Wright via DAL | |||
| December 8, 2020[60] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Al Horford 2025 first-round pick Draft rights to Théo Maledon Draft rights to Vasilije Micić | To Philadelphia 76ers Terrance Ferguson Danny Green Vincent Poirier | |
| March 13, 2021[61] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Svi Mykhailiuk 2027 second-round pick via HOU | To Detroit Pistons Hamidou Diallo | |
| March 17, 2021[62] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Meyers Leonard 2027 second-round pick | To Miami Heat Trevor Ariza | |
| March 25, 2021[63] | To Oklahoma City Thunder Tony Bradley via PHI Austin Rivers via NYK 2025 second-round pick via PHI 2026 second-round pick via PHI | To Philadelphia 76ers George Hill via OKC Ignas Brazdeikis via NYK | |
| To New York Knicks Terrance Ferguson via PHI Vincent Poirier via PHI Draft rights to Emir Preldžić via PHI 2021 second-round pick via PHI 2024 second-round pick via PHI | |||
| Date | Player | Contract | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-Season Re-Signings | |||||
| March 28, 2021 | Moses Brown[64] | Multi-Year | |||
| May 15, 2021 | Charlie Brown Jr.[65] | Multi-Year | |||
| Date | Player | Contract | Former team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 9, 2020 | Moses Brown[66] | Two-Way | Portland Trail Blazers | ||
| December 9, 2020 | Josh Hall[67] | Two-Way | Moravian Prep (Postgraduate) | ||
| In-Season Additions | |||||
| April 5, 2021 | Justin Robinson[68] | 10-Day | Delaware Blue Coats (G League) | ||
| April 5, 2021 | Jaylen Hoard[69] | Two-Way | Oklahoma City Blue (G League) | ||
| April 12, 2021 | Gabriel Deck[70] | Multi-Year |  Real Madrid | ||
| April 15, 2021 | Justin Robinson[71] | Second 10-Day | Oklahoma City Thunder | ||
| April 25, 2021 | Charlie Brown Jr.[72] | 10-Day | Iowa Wolves (G League) | ||
| May 5, 2021 | Charlie Brown Jr.[73] | Second 10-Day | Oklahoma City Thunder | ||
| Date | Player | Reason left | New team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2020 | Kevin Hervey[74] | Free agent |  Lokomotiv Kuban | ||
| November 21, 2020 | Deonte Burton | Free agent | Maine Celtics (G League) | ||
| November 24, 2020 | Danilo Gallinari[75] | Free agent | Atlanta Hawks | ||
| November 25, 2020 | Nerlens Noel[76] | Free agent | New York Knicks | ||
| December 1, 2020 | Josh Gray[77] | Waived | Fort Wayne Mad Ants (G League) | ||
| December 2, 2020 | Zylan Cheatham[78] | Waived | Iowa Wolves (G League) | ||
| December 18, 2020 | T. J. Leaf[79] | Waived | Portland Trail Blazers | ||
| December 18, 2020 | Admiral Schofield[80] | Waived | Greensboro Swarm (G League) | ||
| February 16, 2021 | Andre Roberson[81] | Free agent | Brooklyn Nets | ||
| In-Season Subtractions | |||||
| March 25, 2021 | Meyers Leonard[82] | Waived | Milwaukee Bucks | ||
| March 28, 2021 | Austin Rivers[83] | Waived | Denver Nuggets | ||
| April 5, 2021 | Justin Jackson[84] | Waived | Milwaukee Bucks | ||
| April 8, 2021 | Darius Miller[85] | Waived | N/A | ||