The OKC Thunder announced that Thomas Sorber sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during an offseason workout on Thursday. He will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season.
OKC selected Sorber with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 center spent one season at Georgetown, where he averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks in 24 games.
Sorber’s lone season with Georgetown was cut short due to a turf toe injury. He underwent surgery for that injury Feb. 15 and missed all Summer League play with OKC as a result.
Sorber’s latest injury will sideline him for the entire upcoming season, which OKC will begin on Oct. 21 with a home game against Houston. It’s a tough setback for a big man who showed promise in college as a strong rim protector and rebounder.
OKC has had success practicing patience with its incoming rookies in the past. It selected Chet Holmgren with the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, and he missed his entire first season due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot. Holmgren bounced back the following season by playing in all 92 games, including the playoffs, and he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
Nikola Topić, OKC’s 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft, also missed all of last season due to a partially ACL in his left knee. The 6-6 guard made his debut in Summer League this offseason and averaged 10.8 points, 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds through six games.
Topić will compete for minutes this upcoming season on the reigning champion Thunder, which returns all of its rotation players. That depth will afford OKC the time to practice patience once again with Sorber.
Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.