The 2009-10 Oklahoma City Thunder season marked a significant turning point for the franchise, showcasing their rise as a competitive force in the NBA. Under the leadership of head coach Scott Brooks, the Thunder finished the regular season with an impressive 50-32 record. This was a notable improvement from their previous season’s 23-59 finish, reflecting the team’s rapid development and potential.
Key to the Thunder’s success was the emergence of Kevin Durant, who won the NBA scoring title by averaging 30.1 points per game. Durant’s performance, alongside that of rising stars Russell Westbrook and James Harden, solidified the Thunder’s young core as one of the most promising in the league. Westbrook contributed significantly with averages of 16.1 points, 8.0 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game, while Harden provided valuable scoring off the bench.
Defensively, the Thunder were anchored by Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha, who played pivotal roles in making the team a formidable defensive unit. The Thunder’s strong regular season performance earned them the 8th seed in the Western Conference, leading to their first playoff appearance since the franchise’s relocation to Oklahoma City. In the playoffs, the Thunder faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Though the Thunder were eliminated in six games, the series was competitive, showcasing the team’s potential to contend with elite competition. The 2009-10 season laid a strong foundation for future success, as the Thunder evolved into a perennial playoff contender in the ensuing years.
- Regular Season Record: 50-32
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-4
Oklahoma City Thunder Roster and Stats for 2009-10 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kevin Durant | 82 | 30.1 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 36.5 | 6 | 25.0 | 7.7 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 28.6 |
| Russell Westbrook | 82 | 16.1 | 4.9 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 22.1 | 6 | 20.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 41.7 |
| Jeff Green | 82 | 15.1 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 33.3 | 6 | 11.8 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 29.6 |
| James Harden | 76 | 9.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 37.5 | 6 | 7.7 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 37.5 |
| Nenad Krstić | 76 | 8.4 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 20.1 | 6 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Serge Ibaka | 73 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 50.0 | 6 | 7.8 | 6.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Thabo Sefolosha | 82 | 6.0 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 31.3 | 6 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 23.1 |
| Nick Collison | 75 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 25.0 | 6 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| D.J. White | 12 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Eric Maynor | 55 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 36.2 | 6 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| Ryan Bowen | 1 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mike Wilks | 4 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Etan Thomas | 23 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kyle Weaver | 12 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 36.8 | 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Antonio Anderson | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kevin Ollie | 25 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Byron Mullens | 13 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shaun Livingston | 10 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2010 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 2010 NBA Playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder made their postseason debut, facing the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite their inexperience, the Thunder, led by the dynamic Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, pushed the Lakers to six games, showcasing their potential with a competitive spirit and athleticism. Although they ultimately fell short, losing the series 4-2, their performance hinted at the promising future of the young franchise.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2010 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 87-79 | |
| Apr 20, 2010 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 95-92 | |
| Apr 22, 2010 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-96 | |
| Apr 24, 2010 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-89 | |
| Apr 27, 2010 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-87 | |
| Apr 30, 2010 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 95-94 |
Oklahoma City Thunder 2009-10 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2009-10 season for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2009 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-89 | |
| Oct 30, 2009 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 91-83 | |
| Nov 01, 2009 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 83-74 | |
| Nov 03, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-98 | |
| Nov 06, 2009 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-94 | |
| Nov 08, 2009 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 102-74 | |
| Nov 10, 2009 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 101-98 | |
| Nov 11, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 83-79 | |
| Nov 14, 2009 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 101-98 | |
| Nov 15, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 101-93 | |
| Nov 17, 2009 | @ Miami Heat | W 100-87 | |
| Nov 18, 2009 | @ Orlando Magic | L 108-94 | |
| Nov 20, 2009 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 127-108 | |
| Nov 22, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-85 | |
| Nov 24, 2009 | @ Utah Jazz | W 104-94 | |
| Nov 27, 2009 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-90 | |
| Nov 29, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 100-91 | |
| Dec 02, 2009 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 117-106 | |
| Dec 04, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 105-87 | |
| Dec 07, 2009 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 104-88 | |
| Dec 11, 2009 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 102-94 | |
| Dec 13, 2009 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-89 | |
| Dec 14, 2009 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 102-93 | |
| Dec 16, 2009 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 100-86 | |
| Dec 18, 2009 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 109-98 | |
| Dec 19, 2009 | @ Houston Rockets | L 95-90 | |
| Dec 22, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-108 | |
| Dec 23, 2009 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 117-113 | |
| Dec 26, 2009 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 98-91 | |
| Dec 28, 2009 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-89 | |
| Dec 29, 2009 | @ Washington Wizards | W 110-98 | |
| Dec 31, 2009 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 87-86 | |
| Jan 02, 2010 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-97 | |
| Jan 04, 2010 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 98-85 | |
| Jan 06, 2010 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 97-92 | |
| Jan 09, 2010 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-102 | |
| Jan 11, 2010 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-88 | |
| Jan 13, 2010 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 109-108 | |
| Jan 15, 2010 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 99-98 | |
| Jan 16, 2010 | vs. Miami Heat | W 98-80 | |
| Jan 18, 2010 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 94-91 | |
| Jan 20, 2010 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 94-92 | |
| Jan 22, 2010 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 86-84 | |
| Jan 23, 2010 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 100-99 | |
| Jan 27, 2010 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 96-86 | |
| Jan 29, 2010 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 101-84 | |
| Jan 31, 2010 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-104 | |
| Feb 02, 2010 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 106-99 | |
| Feb 03, 2010 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 103-99 | |
| Feb 06, 2010 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 104-95 | |
| Feb 09, 2010 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 89-77 | |
| Feb 16, 2010 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 99-86 | |
| Feb 20, 2010 | @ New York Knicks | W 121-118 | |
| Feb 21, 2010 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 23, 2010 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 104-102 | |
| Feb 24, 2010 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 95-87 | |
| Feb 26, 2010 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 109-92 | |
| Feb 28, 2010 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 119-99 | |
| Mar 02, 2010 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 113-107 | |
| Mar 03, 2010 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-90 | |
| Mar 05, 2010 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 104-87 | |
| Mar 07, 2010 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 108-102 | |
| Mar 10, 2010 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 98-83 | |
| Mar 12, 2010 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 104-102 | |
| Mar 14, 2010 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 119-111 | |
| Mar 17, 2010 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 100-92 | |
| Mar 19, 2010 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 115-89 | |
| Mar 21, 2010 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 121-101 | |
| Mar 22, 2010 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 99-96 | |
| Mar 24, 2010 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 122-104 | |
| Mar 26, 2010 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 91-75 | |
| Mar 28, 2010 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 92-87 | |
| Mar 30, 2010 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-93 | |
| Mar 31, 2010 | @ Boston Celtics | W 109-104 | |
| Apr 03, 2010 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 121-116 | |
| Apr 04, 2010 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 116-108 | |
| Apr 06, 2010 | @ Utah Jazz | L 140-139 | |
| Apr 07, 2010 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 98-94 | |
| Apr 09, 2010 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 96-91 | |
| Apr 11, 2010 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-117 | |
| Apr 12, 2010 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-95 | |
| Apr 14, 2010 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 114-105 |