The 2019–20 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 12th season of the franchise in Oklahoma City and the 53rd in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This was the Thunder's first season since 2007–08 without Russell Westbrook, as he was traded to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and future draft picks on July 11, 2019. The trade reunited Westbrook with former Thunder teammate James Harden, who had played for the team from 2009 to 2012. The trade also marked Chris Paul's first time since 2006–07 playing in Oklahoma City after playing his first two seasons there when he was a member of the New Orleans Hornets (the Hornets temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City for two seasons following the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans). This trade was preceded by a trade where Paul George was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a record 5 future 1st-round draft picks on July 7.
The season was suspended by the league officials following the games of March 11 after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. The Thunder were one of the 22 teams invited to the NBA Bubble on June 4.
The Thunder faced the Rockets in the first round. However, they lost in a decisive game 7, extending the Thunder's postseason series victory drought to 4 seasons. Despite their loss, the Thunder set some records during the series, such as Chris Paul becoming the oldest player to record a triple-double, and rookie Luguentz Dort joined LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players 21 years old or younger to score over 25 points in a game 7 playoff game.
Until 2024, this season marked the last time the Thunder made the playoffs.
After 5 years as head coach, Billy Donovan’s contract was not renewed following the season, and both sides agreed to mutually part ways.
Previous season The Thunder finished the 2018–19 season 49–33 to finish in fourth place in the Northwest Division, sixth in the Western Conference and qualified for the playoffs.
After falling to the Utah Jazz led by rookie Donovan Mitchell in the 2018 NBA Playoffs, the Thunder faced personnel decisions after acquiring Paul George and Carmelo Anthony in the offseason. Coming off his lowest scoring season, the Thunder traded Anthony to the Atlanta Hawks for Dennis Schröder, placing Schröder into a sixth man role. After the season ended, Anthony rejected the idea of coming off the bench while preferring to play more with the ball in his hands. In free agency, the Thunder re-signed George to a four-year, $137 million deal to stay with spending the year convincing their star to stay.
Offseason
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 21 Brandon Clarke Power Forward Canada Gonzaga Darius Bazley The Thunder had only their own first-round pick entering the draft. The Thunder traded their 2019 second-round pick in the Hamidou Diallo trade from the Charlotte Hornets back in 2018. On draft night, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Brandon Clarke, the twenty-first pick, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the draft rights to Darius Bazley, the twenty-third pick, and a 2024 second-round pick. At the conclusion of player acquisitions and transactions on 2019 NBA draft night they ended with adding Princeton High School forward Darius Bazley.
Trades
On July 6, the Thunder traded the draft rights to Brandon Clarke, the twenty-first pick, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the draft rights to Darius Bazley, the twenty-third pick, and a 2024 second-round pick. On July 6, it was reported that the Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for a record-setting of draft choices after free agent Kawhi Leonard signed with the Clippers, which was finalized on July 10. Leonard had spent the offseason recruiting George, who reportedly requested a trade to join Leonard and the Clippers. The Thunder traded George post-extension to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, a 2021 first-round pick via MIA, a 2022 first-round pick via LAC, a 2023 first-round pick via MIA, rights to swap 2023 first-round picks with LAC, a 2024 first-round pick via LAC, rights to swap 2025 first-round picks with LAC and a 2026 first-round pick via LAC. George joined the Clippers coming off of being named to his first All-NBA First Team, a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, earning All-Defensive First Team honors and finishing third for the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Following George's trade request, Russell Westbrook's future with the Thunder was "certainly in question." It was reported that the Thunder would also trade Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick, which was finalized on July 8. By trading Grant, the Thunder saved $39 million in salary and tax.
On July 11, it was reported that the Thunder traded Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, rights to swap 2021 first-round picks, a 2024 first-round pick, rights to swap 2025 first-round picks and a 2026 first-round pick, which was finalized on July 16. With George departing, Westbrook's future with the Thunder was in jeopardy and the two sides worked together on a trade. Sam Presti worked with Westbrook and his representatives to honor Westbrook's desires of playing with the Houston Rockets to reunite with James Harden. Since the 2019 NBA draft, the Thunder had accumulated eight first-round picks in embracing a full rebuild of the team. Having spent eleven seasons with the Thunder, Westbrook left Oklahoma City as the franchise's all-time leader in points, second in assists, third in rebounds and steals. Westbrook was the NBA Most Valuable Player in the 2016-17 season, an eight-time All-Star, All-NBA First Team honors twice, All-NBA Second Team honors five times, as well as accruing two scoring titles and an assists leader title.
Free agency
For this offseason, free agency began on June 30, 2019, while the July moratorium ended on July 6. Jawun Evans, Raymond Felton, Markieff Morris and Nerlens Noel were set to hit unrestricted free agency. On July 6, Nerlens Noel agreed to a deal to stay with the Thunder. The same day, Markieff Morris signed a deal with the Detroit Pistons. Evans was not re-signed by the Thunder, joined the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.
On June 30 and July 1, it was reported that Mike Muscala and Alec Burks agreed to a deal with the Thunder. However, after the Paul George trade, the Thunder allowed both Muscala and Burks to re-evaluate their situations to remain with the Thunder. Burks instead signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors while Muscala remained with the Thunder. Muscala will later sign with the Thunder on July 10.
On July 6, Luguentz Dort signed a two-way contract with the Thunder. Dort came undrafted out of Arizona State. On August 13, Justin Patton signed a contract with the Thunder. Patton spent the 2018-19 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. To fill in the other two-way slot, Devon Hall signed a two-way contract with the Thunder on September 4. Hall was originally selected 53rd overall in the 2018 NBA draft but did not sign a contract in the 2018-19 season, instead playing a season with Cairns Taipans.
On July 25, Donte Grantham was waived by the Thunder. On August 1, Patrick Patterson was waived by the Thunder following a contract buyout.
Front office and coaching changes On July 23, the Thunder announced David Akinyooye, Dave Bliss, Mark Daigneault, Brian Keefe and Mike Wilks as assistant coaches. Akinyooye joins the Thunder after serving four seasons as the assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue. Bliss joins the coaching staff after serving as a senior player development for the Thunder with previous experience with the New York Knicks. Daigneault joins the Thunder after serving five seasons as the head coach for the Blue. Keefe joins the Thunder after previously serving five seasons with the Thunder back in 2008 to 2013. Wilks joins the coaching staff after serving as a senior pro evaluation scout for the Thunder. Wilks became the second former Thunder player since Royal Ivey to join the team's coaching staff.
Roster
Standings
Conference
Division
Game log
Preseason
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | October 8 | Dallas | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24) | Danilo Gallinari (9) | Dennis Schröder (5) | BOK Center12,055 | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | October 10 | New Zealand Breakers | | Steven Adams (19) | Steven Adams (10) | Dennis Schröder (6) | Chesapeake Energy ArenaN/A | 2–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | October 14 | @ Dallas | | Gilgeous-Alexander & Gallinari (16) | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8) | | Dennis Schröder (6) | American Airlines Center15,305 | 2–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 16 | Memphis | | Devon Hall (19) | Danilo Gallinari (10) | Bazley & Schröder (6) | Chesapeake Energy Arena1,000 | 2–2
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | July 24 | @ Boston | |Adams & Gilgeous-Alexander (17) |Adams & Bazley (7) | Chris Paul (5) | Visa Athletic CenterNo In-Person Attendance | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | July 26 | Philadelphia | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (16) | Steven Adams (9) | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5) | HP Field HouseNo In-Person Attendance | 2–0 |- style="background:#CFC;" | 3 | July 28 | @ Portland | | Darius Bazley (20) | Mike Muscala (6) | Schröder & Gilgeous-Alexander (7) | Visa Athletic CenterNo In-Person Attendance | 3–0
Regular season
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 23 | @ Utah | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26) | Steven Adams (11) | Dennis Schröder (4) | Vivint Smart Home Arena18,306 | 0–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | October 25 | Washington | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28) | Steven Adams (14) | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 0–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 27 | Golden State | | Dennis Schröder (22) | Gilgeous-Alexander & Adams (9) | Dennis Schröder (6) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 1–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 28 | @ Houston | | Gilgeous-Alexander & Schröder (22) | Steven Adams (12) | Dennis Schröder (7) | Toyota Center18,055 | 1–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | October 30 | Portland | | Chris Paul (21) | Nerlens Noel (14) | Chris Paul (5) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 1–4
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | November 2 | New Orleans | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23) | Dennis Schröder (9) | Chris Paul (9) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 2–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 5 | Orlando | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24) | Steven Adams (11) | Chris Paul (6) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 3–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | November 7 | @ San Antonio | | Danilo Gallinari (27) | Nerlens Noel (6) | Dennis Schröder (9) | AT&T Center18,354 | 3–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 9 | Golden State | | Danilo Gallinari (21) | Steven Adams (8) | Chris Paul (9) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 4–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 10 | November 10 | Milwaukee | | Dennis Schröder (25) | Danilo Gallinari (7) | Noel & Gilgeous-Alexander (6) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 4–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 11 | November 12 | @ Indiana | | Danilo Gallinari (14) | Bazley & Gilgeous-Alexander (6) | Chris Paul (8) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse15,838 | 4–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | November 15 | Philadelphia | | Danilo Gallinari (28) | Chris Paul (8) | Chris Paul (5) | Chesapeake Energy Arena18,203 | 5–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 18 | @ L. A. Clippers | | Chris Paul (22) | Steven Adams (10) | Steven Adams (6) | Staples Center19,068 | 5–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 14 | November 19 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Dennis Schröder (31) | Nerlens Noel (8) | Chris Paul (10) | Staples Center18,997 | 5–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | November 22 | L. A. Lakers | | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24) | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7)