The 2024-25 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder capped off their celebration by having the 15th, 24th, and 44th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They ended up trading the 24th pick to the Sacramento Kings for a future first in 2027. This pick is via the San Antonio Spurs and is top-16 protected. By then, the Spurs should be playoff contenders, and this pick should convey to the Thunder. With the remaining picks, the Thunder brought in a stacked draft class. Here are the grades for the two new Thunder rookies from the 2025 draft class.
Grading the Thunders’ 2025 NBA Draft Class
Thomas Sorber
Thomas Sorber was someone near the top of the Thunder’s wish list. Sorber may not show instant impact on the court, but the long-term goal of drafting him is vital. After the 2025-26 season, Isaiah Hartenstein has a team option worth $28,500,000. This is the same year that likely extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams would take effect. Therefore, the Thunder may have to decline Hartenstein’s option and let him walk.
This is when Sorber comes in. For a season, he can learn under Hartenstein and become his replacement. He will also serve as the shot-blocker off the bench for Oklahoma City. In his one year at Georgetown, Sorber averaged two blocks a game. This is in part due to the freakish length he brings. Standing at 6-foot-10, he boasts a 7-foot-6 wingspan. It just seems like his arms go on forever.
His offensive game does need polishing, but he brings great pick-and-roll action that the Thunder can utilize. Pairing him with Williams or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when one of those two is off the court would be huge. It would allow both of these players always to have a screener that enables them to drive downhill.
Overall, I give this pick an A grade. He is the perfect fit, but he does have some areas to improve on offense. With what the Thunder needed though, he fits perfectly. Sorber is also the highlight of the Thunder’s 2025 draft class.
Brooks Barnhizer
With the 44th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Thunder selected Brooks Barnhizer of Northwestern University. The Big Ten is a tough conference to play in, and Barnhizer thrived in that conference. He also fits what Sam Presti does in the draft, which is drafting people over athletes. The bright side of Barnhizer is that he is not just a good person but a great basketball player.
Barnhizer was a four-year player at Northwestern and averaged 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals during his collegiate career. He embodies the identity of the new-age Thunder as a defensive powerhouse. The team believes they can succeed without a top-10 offense because their defense will not allow more than 100 points per game fairly often. Barnhizer was one of the best defenders in the 2025 draft class. In his final season, he averaged 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
He also draws some similarities to a current Thunder player, two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso. Both are players who do stuff that doesn’t show up in the box score. They dive for loose balls and never quit on a play. Barnhizer also has a mentality that sets him apart, putting him above everyone else. He once had surgery to put some teeth back in his mouth and then played two days later. You cannot teach that kind of work ethic.
OKC got a DAWG in Brooks Barnhizer.
— ENJ🏀Y (@EnjoyBBall) June 27, 2025
He may have been a second-rounder, but this pick gets an A+ from me. Barnhizer is a great collegiate player with a work ethic that cannot be taught. He will give it his all and may even make a case to secure an NBA contract rather than being on a two-way deal. He is older, but that is not a problem. Expect him to make waves with the Oklahoma City Blue and get to a point where the Thunder start utilizing him.
The Final Verdict
The Thunder just had a top-five draft in the entire league. This is a rare feat for a championship team to do. Barnhizer can go down as the biggest steal from the 2025 draft, and Sorber can finish as a top-five player from this class. This Thunder draft class can keep a potential dynasty going strong in the Sooner state.
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