The 2008-09 Oklahoma City Thunder season marked the franchise’s inaugural year in Oklahoma City after relocating from Seattle, where they were previously known as the SuperSonics. The team, led by head coach P.J. Carlesimo, struggled out of the gate, leading to his dismissal after a 1-12 start. Assistant coach Scott Brooks took over, eventually being promoted to the permanent head coach position.
The Thunder ended the season with a 23-59 record, finishing last in the Northwest Division and missing the playoffs. Despite the disappointing overall record, the season was significant for laying the groundwork for future success. The team was spearheaded by young talent, including Kevin Durant, who averaged 25.3 points per game, establishing himself as a future NBA superstar. Alongside Durant, rookie Russell Westbrook showcased his potential, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game, earning him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Management made strategic moves to build the team’s core, acquiring Jeff Green and drafting James Harden third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. These decisions were pivotal in shaping the Thunder’s identity. Despite their struggles, the 2008-09 season was a developmental period that set the stage for Oklahoma City’s transformation into a competitive force in the NBA in subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 23-59
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder Roster and Stats for 2008-09 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kevin Durant | 74 | 25.3 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 42.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jeff Green | 78 | 16.5 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 38.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 82 | 15.3 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 27.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nenad Krstić | 46 | 9.7 | 5.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| D.J. White | 7 | 8.9 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Thabo Sefolosha | 23 | 8.5 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 24.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris Wilcox | 37 | 8.4 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Nick Collison | 71 | 8.2 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Shaun Livingston | 8 | 7.8 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Desmond Mason | 39 | 7.5 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Joe Smith | 36 | 6.6 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Earl Watson | 68 | 6.6 | 2.7 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 23.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kyle Weaver | 56 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 34.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Damien Wilkins | 41 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Malik Rose | 20 | 5.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Johan Petro | 22 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chucky Atkins | 19 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mouhamed Sene | 5 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Robert Swift | 26 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Steven Hill | 1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Oklahoma City Thunder 2008-09 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2008-09 season for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2008 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 98-87 | |
| Nov 01, 2008 | @ Houston Rockets | L 89-77 | |
| Nov 02, 2008 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 88-85 | |
| Nov 05, 2008 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 96-83 | |
| Nov 07, 2008 | @ Utah Jazz | L 104-97 | |
| Nov 09, 2008 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 89-85 | |
| Nov 10, 2008 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-99 | |
| Nov 12, 2008 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 109-92 | |
| Nov 14, 2008 | @ New York Knicks | L 116-106 | |
| Nov 15, 2008 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-85 | |
| Nov 17, 2008 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 100-89 | |
| Nov 19, 2008 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 108-88 | |
| Nov 21, 2008 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 105-80 | |
| Nov 22, 2008 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 109-97 | |
| Nov 25, 2008 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 99-98 | |
| Nov 26, 2008 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 117-82 | |
| Nov 28, 2008 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 105-103 | |
| Nov 29, 2008 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 111-103 | |
| Dec 03, 2008 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 103-97 | |
| Dec 05, 2008 | @ Orlando Magic | L 98-89 | |
| Dec 06, 2008 | @ Miami Heat | L 105-99 | |
| Dec 08, 2008 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 112-102 | |
| Dec 10, 2008 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 108-102 | |
| Dec 13, 2008 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 103-99 | |
| Dec 14, 2008 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 109-104 | |
| Dec 16, 2008 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 98-88 | |
| Dec 19, 2008 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 91-83 | |
| Dec 21, 2008 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-91 | |
| Dec 23, 2008 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 99-88 | |
| Dec 26, 2008 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 90-88 | |
| Dec 27, 2008 | @ Washington Wizards | L 104-95 | |
| Dec 29, 2008 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-102 | |
| Dec 31, 2008 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-100 | |
| Jan 02, 2009 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 122-120 | |
| Jan 06, 2009 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-99 | |
| Jan 07, 2009 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 129-87 | |
| Jan 09, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 98-96 | |
| Jan 10, 2009 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 109-98 | |
| Jan 12, 2009 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-99 | |
| Jan 14, 2009 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 114-93 | |
| Jan 16, 2009 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 89-79 | |
| Jan 18, 2009 | vs. Miami Heat | L 104-94 | |
| Jan 21, 2009 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 122-121 | |
| Jan 23, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 107-104 | |
| Jan 26, 2009 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 94-85 | |
| Jan 28, 2009 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 114-102 | |
| Jan 30, 2009 | @ Utah Jazz | L 110-90 | |
| Feb 01, 2009 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 122-118 | |
| Feb 04, 2009 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 114-113 | |
| Feb 06, 2009 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-93 | |
| Feb 08, 2009 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 116-113 | |
| Feb 10, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-98 | |
| Feb 11, 2009 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-92 | |
| Feb 17, 2009 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 100-98 | |
| Feb 20, 2009 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 140-118 | |
| Feb 21, 2009 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 133-120 | |
| Feb 24, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-93 | |
| Feb 27, 2009 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 28, 2009 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 99-92 | |
| Mar 02, 2009 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 96-87 | |
| Mar 04, 2009 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 88-83 | |
| Mar 07, 2009 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 108-90 | |
| Mar 08, 2009 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 89-74 | |
| Mar 10, 2009 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 99-98 | |
| Mar 11, 2009 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 112-99 | |
| Mar 14, 2009 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 106-95 | |
| Mar 16, 2009 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 78-76 | |
| Mar 18, 2009 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 103-96 | |
| Mar 20, 2009 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 101-94 | |
| Mar 22, 2009 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 97-90 | |
| Mar 24, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-89 | |
| Mar 27, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 112-96 | |
| Mar 29, 2009 | @ Boston Celtics | L 103-84 | |
| Mar 31, 2009 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 96-95 | |
| Apr 03, 2009 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-72 | |
| Apr 05, 2009 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 117-99 | |
| Apr 07, 2009 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 99-89 | |
| Apr 08, 2009 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-112 | |
| Apr 10, 2009 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 84-81 | |
| Apr 11, 2009 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-98 | |
| Apr 13, 2009 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-83 | |
| Apr 15, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 126-85 |