2009–10 Oklahoma City Thunder season

The 2009–10 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 2nd season of the franchise's existence in Oklahoma City as a member of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

With NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant, second-year point guard Russell Westbrook, and forward Jeff Green leading the way, the Thunder made the playoffs as the youngest team in the NBA with the 28th highest total salary in the league. The team became the youngest NBA playoff team (23.19, using data going back to 1952) based on average age weighted by minutes played. The Thunder were then eliminated by the defending and eventual NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the First Round. The 2009–10 Oklahoma City Thunder and the 2007–08 Denver Nuggets are tied at 50–32 for having the best 8th seed record in NBA history. This was also the first season for James Harden. The Thunder clinched their first playoff spot since 2005, and their first in Oklahoma City.

From a business perspective, the team began to show positive financial performance after years of losses in Seattle and a transition-cost laden 2008–09 season. In December 2009, Forbes magazine estimated the team's operating profit at $12.7 million, and estimated the overall franchise value at $310 million, good for 20th in the NBA.

Key dates June 25, 2009: The 2009 NBA draft took place in New York City. July 8, 2009: The free agency period started. October 28, 2009: The Thunder play their first regular-season game, and achieve their first regular-season victory, in a 102–89 home win over the Sacramento Kings. January 2, 2010 Kevin Durant scored more than 30 points in his seventh consecutive game, breaking the franchise record set by Spencer Haywood in January 1972. January 20, 2010: The Thunder surpass their win total from 2008 to 2009 with their 24th season victory, a 94–92 win at the Minnesota Timberwolves. February 24, 2010: Kevin Durant's 21 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs ends his streak of 29 consecutive games with 25 or more points. March 2, 2010: The Thunder surpass the 500,000 season home attendance figure in a 113–107 victory over the Sacramento Kings at the Ford Center. March 12, 2010: Durant had his 36th game with 30 or more points this season, breaking the franchise record set by Spencer Haywood in the 1972–73 season. Durant ended the regular season with 41 games of 30 points or more. April 3, 2010: The Thunder clinch a playoff spot for the first time in city franchise history with a 121–116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. April 14, 2010: Durant becomes the youngest scoring leader at the age of 21, taking the distinction from Max Zaslofsky (1947–48 BAA scoring leader at the age of 22). The Thunder also end the season on a positive note, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 114-105 – their 27th season home sellout, bringing total home attendance to 738,149 (an average of 18,003 per game, 12th in the NBA). April 22, 2010: The Thunder win their first-ever Oklahoma City franchise playoff game with a 101–96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Ford Center.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/club team 1 3 James Harden SG Arizona State 1 25 Rodrigue Beaubois PG Cholet

The franchise entered the draft for the first time as the Thunder with two first-round picks: their own (3rd) and an additional selection from the San Antonio Spurs (25th) acquired in 2008 as the Seattle SuperSonics. The team had previously traded its original second-round pick to the Denver Nuggets in January 2009.

Roster

Salaries Player Salary Etan Thomas $7,350,000 Earl Watson $6,600,000 Matt Harpring $6,500,000 Nick Collison $6,250,000 Nenad Krstić $5,400,000 Kevin Durant $4,796,880 James Harden $4,004,160 Russell Westbrook $3,755,640 Jeff Green $3,516,960 Thabo Sefolosha $2,759,627 Eric Maynor $1,318,920 Kevin Ollie $1,306,455 Byron Mullens $1,120,200 Serge Ibaka $1,120,200 DJ White $1,036,440 Kyle Weaver $870,968 Shaun Livingston $296,695 Ryan Bowen $209,592 Mike Wilks $175,908

Source: HoopsHype

Game log

Preseason

| 1 | October 7 | at Memphis | L 91–99

| FedExForum7,217 | 0–1 |- | 2 | October 10 | at New Orleans | L 79–88

| New Orleans Arena11,568 | 0–2 |- | 3 | October 12 | Phoenix | W 110–105 (OT)

| Ford Center15,223 | 1–2 |- | 4 | October 14 | vs. Miami | W 96–91

| BOK Center (Tulsa, OK) 10,427 | 2–2 |- | 5 | October 19 | at Houston | L 85–105

| Toyota Center11,992 | 2–3 |- | 6 | October 20 | vs. San Antonio | L 102–119

| Frank Erwin Center (Austin, TX)10,290 | 2–4 |- | 7 | October 22 | Sacramento | L 89–104

| Ford Center16,014 | 2–5

Regular season

Standings

Division

Conference

Game log

2009–10 Oklahoma City Thunder season

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