Straight out of the playbook! Theo Maledon works a perfectly crafted give-and-go with Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Mike Muscala and caps off the play with an easy bucket. The rookie’s squad held on for the December 26, 2020 win against the Charlotte Hornets in his first NBA contest.

Théo Maledon

Théo Maledon cuts backdoor for layup in first NBA game

A tantalizing combination of skill and size since the moment he appeared on the basketball radar, Chet Holmgren’s NBA debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder did not disappoint. Checked by a veteran big in the corner, Holmgren feigns a post move before pivoting into a picturesque turnaround jumper. Holmgren finished his October 25, 2023 debut with 11 points, four boards and three assists.

Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren drills turnaround jumper for first NBA basket

Just weeks into his NBA career, Josh Giddey has NBA fans and superstars alike buzzing about his movement of the ball. In his first regular season game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the rook demonstrates masterful handles, simultaneously losing his defender and drawing two more before floating the rock to a teammate for a layup. In addition to his smooth maneuvers on the court, Giddey locked in 10 rebounds in his debut on October 20, 2021.

Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey delivers pick-and-roll dime in first NBA appearance

Thunder up! Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder catches the quick pass from teammate Russell Westbrook and throws down the earth-shaking two-handed slam against Western Conference rivals the Memphis Grizzlies during Game 7 of their first round Playoffs series on May 3, 2014. 

Steven Adams

Steven Adams unleashes power dunk in 2014 Playoffs

Though touted for his elite on-ball defense, it didn’t take long for the unacquainted to learn there’s much more to Cason Wallace. Working off of a screen from fellow rookie Chet Holmgren, Wallace seizes an opportunity to create space from his defender and pull up for a jumper. Wallace didn’t miss in his October 25, 2023 debut, shooting 5-for-5 in a lopsided Oklahoma City Thunder victory.

Cason Wallace

Cason Wallace buries jumper, shoots 5-for-5 in first career game

Tre Mann wasted little time in getting off to a fast start. In his fifth game of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard got the best of Paul George when he threw the LA Clippers’ All-Star off balance with a slick through-the-legs dribble before he finished the play with an open step-back 3-pointer. The second-year pro energized the Thunder with 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and five treys in the Thunder’s 118-110 victory on October 27, 2022. 

Tre Mann

Tre Mann crosses over into high-arching stepback triple

With the heave! Oklahoma City Thunder big man Steven Adams launches a miraculous inbounds pass the length of the court to Dennis Schroder for the game-tying layup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 6, 2019.

Steven Adams wires inbound pass 94 feet for game-tying Dennis Schröder layup

As the only starter available for a shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder squad, Luguentz Dort answered the bell. Dort asserts himself against the Memphis Grizzlies, taking it right to Brandon Clarke before hitting his defender with a spin move and stepback jumper. Dort was money when his team needed him most, pouring in a team-high 24 points to pair with seven rebounds and four assists in a 115-109 win on December 17, 2022. 

Luguentz Dort

Luguentz Dort spins around defender into stepback jumper

Turning on the jets! Speedy Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Dennis Schröder blows past the Houston Rockets defense for a pretty layup during first round playoff action on August 24, 2020.

Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schröder blows past defense for scoop shot in 2020 Playoffs

Off-balance and through traffic, scoring at the rim is a difficult skill to master. Seattle SuperSonics wing Ray Allen, famously comfortable beyond the arc, heads straight to the paint against the Indiana Pacers, absorbs contact powerful enough to knock him off his axis and still manages to sink the bucket on January 2, 2006.

Ray Allen

Ray Allen navigates around defense, connects on circus shot through contact

The first six minutes of Jalen Williams’ career turned out to be pretty perfect. After the Oklahoma City Thunder made him the 12th pick in the draft, Williams rewards their faith, passing up a three-point attempt to instead take a run right at Karl-Anthony Towns. Williams puts the ball on the floor with his left hand, driving hard toward the basket and getting the best of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ three-time All-Star with a baseline floater. Williams made both of his field-goal attempts and added an assist during his October 19, 2022 professional debut.

Jalen Williams

Jalen Williams drains baseline push shot in first NBA appearance

Calm, collected and unusually experienced for a rookie, Vasilije Micić provides instant impact for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The inbounder in a baseline out-of-bounds play, Micić executes the play to script, resulting in a wide-open triple for his first NBA points. The 29-year-old drained his only attempt and added an assist in the October 27, 2023 victory.

Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micić executes baseline inbound play for first career basket

Marketplace

Théo Maledon

Chet Holmgren

Josh Giddey

Steven Adams

Cason Wallace

Tre Mann

Steven Adams

Luguentz Dort

Dennis Schröder

Ray Allen

Jalen Williams

Vasilije Micić