Even though it hasn’t even been two decades since the Oklahoma City Thunder arrived, the NBA champion has had a rich history of contenders. They’re one of the winningest teams since they relocated in 2008 and have been a perennial playoff squad.

The Thunder have had deep playoff runs every other season with an All-NBA representative in most of their years. They’ve had an unreal span of three MVP winners. Sam Presti has enjoyed ridiculous job longevity because of his ability to rebuild and fortify championship contenders.

As the Thunder prepare to enter their 18th season, Thunder Wire will conduct positional top-five rankings. First up is point guard:

5. Dennis Schroder

Thunder stint (2018-20, 2 seasons): 17.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.6 RPG, 44% shooting, 36.1% 3-point shooting

A buy-low candidate at the time, Schroder completely changed his trajectory in his two seasons on the Thunder. He thrived in a bench role that saw him finish runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year during the 2019-20 season. He was a fun secondary scorer who provided a punch off the bench. The playmaking was also an underrated strength. While neither of his years in OKC saw much playoff success, he was part of some competitive regular-season squads.

4. Josh Giddey

Thunder stint (2021-24, 3 seasons): 13.9 PPG, 5.7 APG, 7.3 RPG, 46.4% shooting, 31% 3-point shooting

Even though Giddey only lasted three seasons on the Thunder, he’s had a productive career. He was a primary ball-handler for most of his time. While he provided awesome playmaking and size, the lack of a shot was his detriment. Still, he was a fun player who put up a handful of triple-doubles. Alas, both sides needed a fresh start as he was no longer afforded a high-usage role. His biggest contribution was his trade value, as he was dealt for Alex Caruso. The veteran helped OKC win an NBA championship.

3. Chris Paul

Thunder stint (2019-20, 1 season): 17.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.0 RPG, 48.9% shooting, 36.5% 3-point shooting

Nobody else had a more dramatic character arc in Thunder history. When Paul was traded to OKC, nobody wanted him. When he was traded away, he became a fan favorite. It only took one season of a bounce-back season for him to win the hearts of the fanbase that previously despised him. While he was only there for a single season, it was one of the more fun campaigns ever. He smashed any expectations and completely revamped his career. The future Hall-of-Famer enjoyed an All-Star and All-NBA season. Poetically enough, he almost sent home the Rockets in a seven-game Round 1 series.

2. Russell Westbrook

Thunder stint (2008-19, 11 seasons): 23.0 PPG, 8.4 APG, 7.0 RPG, 43.4% shooting, 30.8% 3-point shooting

Mr. Triple-Double. Westbrook is synonymous with the 2010s Thunder. He’s one of the best players of his era. When he was in OKC, he was a perennial All-Star and All-NBA member. He won a pair of scoring titles and brought home the 2016-17 MVP award. He did the unthinkable of averaging a 31-point triple-double the season after Kevin Durant left. He was the co-star of several OKC teams that went deep into the playoffs with four Western Conference Finals appearances and one NBA Finals trip. For all his faults, any other team would’ve gladly taken him in his prime. The future Hall-of-Famer enjoyed his best seasons in OKC and will eventually get his No. 0 retired with a statue likely also unveiled.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Thunder stint (2019-Present, 6-plus seasons): 27.4 PPG, 5.5 APG, 5.2 RPG, 50.3% shooting, 35.5% 3-point shooting

The greatest and best Thunder player ever. Gilgeous-Alexander usurped both of those titles from Durant and Westbrook. For the longest time, there was a semantic distinction between the two. Now, that’s irrelevant. The reigning MVP has ascended into all-time status. He’s had three straight All-NBA seasons with efficient 30-point campaigns. He was the face of one of the greatest teams ever that brought home the Larry O’Brien trophy. The scary part is, he’s just entering his prime. There’s a real chance he can be the next face of the NBA as OKC hopes to go back-to-back. His improbable superstar rise is the biggest reason why the Thunder won an NBA championship and could win more.