The OKC Thunder has been the gift that keeps on giving this season.
Despite numerous injuries to key players and sky-high expectations after winning last year’s NBA championship, OKC continues to deliver at a historic level. And it’ll soon look to gift fans another memorable outing.
OKC will host San Antonio at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. It’ll mark the Thunder’s first Christmas Day game since 2018.
“I’m really excited, and I think the rest of the guys are as well,” Thunder guard Isaiah Joe said. “We get to be home for Christmas Day and play in front of our fans and families. I think it’s an experience we can’t take for granted, so we’re gearing up for it.”
OKC had plenty of great gift givers throughout its nine previous Christmas Day games. From Kevin Durant to Russell Westbrook to Paul George, numerous Thunder players have put together memorable performances.
But which one tops the list? Here are the top five Thunder player performances on Christmas Day:
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Stat line: 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks
Steven Adams still had the look of a corporate guy. The 6-foot-11 center hadn’t yet grown out his man bun, and the tattoo sleeve that now takes up his entire right arm was only a forearm piece.
But even though most people don’t clock a 9-to-5 on Christmas Day, Adams put in quite the shift against San Antonio. He racked up 16 points and 15 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting from the field (6 for 12 from the free-throw line) in 31 minutes.
Adams also recorded three blocks, including a key swat on Hall of Famer Tim Duncan midway through the fourth quarter. That helped the Thunder secure a 114-106 road win over the reigning champion Spurs.
Stat line: 28 points, 14 rebounds and three steals
George played the best basketball of his career during the 2018-19 season, as he finished third in MVP voting. And he also shined on Christmas Day.
George finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes. He shot 10 for 25 from the field and 4 for 9 from deep.
But James Harden played the role of the Grinch. The former Thunder star scored 41 points to lead the Rockets to a 113-109 home win.
Stat line: 31 points, 11 assists and six rebounds
Westbrook was fittingly in his bag during OKC’s 112-107 home win over Houston on Christmas Day in 2017.
The reigning MVP fearlessly attacked the rim on drives. He dished the ball to open teammates. He battled with bigs on the boards. He invaded passing lanes for steals. And he put a bow on the game in the closing moments.
Westbrook snagged a defensive rebound with 23 seconds remaining and found Andre Roberson for a layup on the other end, giving OKC a 112-107 lead. He finished with 31 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes.
Stat line: 31 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds
Nobody embraced the giving spirit more than Westbrook on Christmas Day in 2016.
The superstar guard showcased his elite playmaking skills during OKC’s 112-100 home win over Minnesota. He racked up 15 assists to go along with his 31 points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes.
And after being so generous throughout all of that season, Westbrook received the NBA’s MVP award. He became just the second player in league history to ever average a triple-double.
Stat line: 44 points, seven rebounds and four assists
Durant is the star who sits atop this list.
The then-22-year-old forward lit up the shot chart like a Christmas tree in OKC’s 114-106 home win over Denver. And he decorated nearly every spot on the floor with buckets, scoring 44 points on 14-for-20 shooting from the field (4 for 7 from deep).
Durant also delivered down the stretch. He drilled a deep 3-pointer that served as the dagger with 1:40 remaining, completing the best Christmas Day performance by a Thunder player so far.
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA 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.
Thunder vs. Spurs
TIPOFF: 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Paycom Center (ABC/ESPN)