Last Updated on May 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Oklahoma City Thunder franchise — including its Seattle SuperSonics history — has featured some of the greatest playmakers in NBA history. From explosive triple-double machines to traditional floor generals and elite two-way guards, these players stand out as the best passers the franchise has ever seen.

1. Russell Westbrook

Position: Point Guard
Years with Thunder: 2008–2019
Why He Belongs:
Russell Westbrook is the greatest passer in Oklahoma City Thunder history. He holds the Thunder-era franchise record with 6,897 assists and revolutionized the modern triple-double era with his relentless playmaking. (NBA)

Westbrook’s passing combined explosiveness with creativity. He constantly pressured defenses in transition, collapsed the paint off drives, and created open looks for teammates like Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Steven Adams. His MVP season in 2016–17 included an incredible 10.4 assists per game.

Beyond the numbers, Westbrook’s ability to generate offense at high speed made him one of the most dangerous playmakers in NBA history.

2. Gary Payton

Position: Point Guard
Years with SuperSonics: 1990–2003
Why He Belongs:
Gary Payton remains the franchise’s all-time assists leader across the full Thunder/SuperSonics history with 7,384 assists. (NBA)

Known primarily for his defense and trash talk, Payton was also one of the league’s smartest offensive organizers. He mastered pick-and-roll basketball and consistently created efficient opportunities for teammates, especially Shawn Kemp during Seattle’s dominant 1990s run.

Payton’s combination of playmaking, defense, leadership, and longevity makes him one of the best all-around point guards ever.

3. Nate McMillan

Position: Guard
Years with SuperSonics: 1986–1998
Why He Belongs:
Nate McMillan was one of the steadiest and most intelligent point guards of his era. He ranks third in franchise history with 4,893 assists and served as the connective tissue for successful Seattle teams throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. (Land of Basketball)

McMillan rarely forced mistakes and excelled at controlling tempo. His calm leadership and defensive toughness helped stabilize the franchise for more than a decade.

4. Lenny Wilkens

Position: Guard
Years with SuperSonics: 1968–1972
Why He Belongs:
Lenny Wilkens was the franchise’s first true superstar playmaker. Even though he played only four seasons with Seattle, he established the early offensive identity of the organization.

Wilkens combined elite ball-handling, passing vision, and scoring ability while functioning as one of the NBA’s premier floor generals during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He remains among the franchise leaders in assists despite his relatively short tenure. (StatMuse)

5. Chris Paul

Position: Point Guard
Years with Thunder: 2019–2020
Why He Belongs:
Chris Paul spent just one season in Oklahoma City, but his passing brilliance and leadership completely transformed the franchise. Many expected the Thunder to rebuild, but Paul guided the team to the playoffs while mentoring a young core.

His elite pick-and-roll orchestration, clutch playmaking, and control of game tempo helped maximize players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari. Paul’s basketball IQ immediately elevated the Thunder offense.

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Position: Guard
Years with Thunder: 2019–Present
Why He Belongs:
Although known primarily as a scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has developed into one of the NBA’s most complete offensive engines. He already ranks second in Thunder-era assists behind only Russell Westbrook. (Wikipedia)

Shai’s playmaking has steadily improved as Oklahoma City evolved into a contender. His ability to manipulate defenses, create off penetration, and generate efficient offense has made him one of the league’s elite lead guards. During his MVP-level seasons, he consistently averaged over six assists per game. (New York Post)

7. Dennis Johnson

Position: Guard
Years with SuperSonics: 1976–1980
Why He Belongs:
Dennis Johnson was a major part of Seattle’s 1979 NBA championship team and one of the best two-way guards of his generation.

While defense defined much of his reputation, Johnson was also an excellent facilitator who could run the offense effectively in both transition and half-court settings. His ability to create offense under pressure was critical during deep playoff runs.

8. Gus Williams

Position: Guard
Years with SuperSonics: 1977–1984
Why He Belongs:
Nicknamed “The Wizard,” Gus Williams was one of the fastest guards in basketball during his era. He blended scoring with outstanding playmaking and was a key offensive force during Seattle’s championship years.

Williams ranks among the franchise leaders in assists and excelled in transition offense. (Land of Basketball)

9. James Harden

Position: Guard
Years with Thunder: 2009–2012
Why He Belongs:
Before becoming an MVP in Houston, James Harden showed flashes of elite playmaking with the Thunder. As the sixth man on Oklahoma City’s Finals team in 2012, Harden frequently acted as a secondary offensive initiator.

His passing creativity and ability to break down defenses helped unlock Oklahoma City’s offense alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

10. Josh Giddey

Position: Guard
Years with Thunder: 2021–2024
Why He Belongs:
Josh Giddey quickly established himself as one of the most naturally gifted passers in franchise history. His size, vision, and creativity allowed him to make advanced reads uncommon for players his age.

Giddey thrived in transition and half-court creation alike, often delivering highlight-level passes that energized the Thunder offense.

Honorable Mentions

  • Fred Brown
  • Slick Watts
  • Kevin Durant
  • Reggie Jackson
  • Jeff Green
  • Chet Holmgren

Russell Westbrook stands as the definitive passing icon of Thunder basketball, while Gary Payton remains the franchise-wide assists king when including the Seattle era. Across generations, the franchise has consistently featured elite facilitators capable of leading dynamic offenses.

Sources:
Basketball-Reference Thunder career leaders
NBA.com Thunder assist leaders
Land of Basketball Thunder assists leaders
StatMuse Thunder assist leaders