Hoops Habit
Fansided

Oklahoma City Thunder: 25 Best Players To Play For The Thunder

By Phil Watson

May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 26
Next
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattle SuperSonics’ Sam Perkins(C) muscles for position against Minnesota Timberwolves Sam Mitchell(L), and Terry Porter(R) during first half action of their Western Conference playoff game in Seattle 26 April. Minnesota defeated Seattle, 98-93, to tie the best-of-five series 1-1. (DAN LEVINE/AFP/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES: Seattle SuperSonics’ Sam Perkins(C) muscles for position against Minnesota Timberwolves Sam Mitchell(L), and Terry Porter(R) during first half action of their Western Conference playoff game in Seattle 26 April. Minnesota defeated Seattle, 98-93, to tie the best-of-five series 1-1. (DAN LEVINE/AFP/Getty Images) /

player. 149. Trade, Los Angeles Lakers, Feb. 22, 1993.. PF-C. 1993-98. Sam Perkins. 21

After being stuck with a draft pick who wouldn’t sign, the Seattle SuperSonics made the best of a bad situation when they acquired Sam Perkins from the Los Angeles Lakers in February 1993 for Benoit Benjamin and the rights to 17th overall pick Doug Christie.

It turned into a solid deal for the Sonics as Perkins spent his time in Seattle as a very effective first big man off the bench.

OKC_21_PERKINS
OKC_21_PERKINS /

He helped the Sonics reach the 1996 NBA Finals, where they lost to the

Chicago Bulls

in six games. In the series, Perkins averaged 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 31.7 minutes a game off the bench, shooting .377/4-for-17/.810.

When the NBA lockout ended in January 1999, Perkins signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers.

In parts of six seasons with Seattle, Perkins averaged 11.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game, shooting .440/.382/.800.

He was a two-time All-American at North Carolina, averaging 17.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a senior after helping the Tar Heels to a national championship as a sophomore.

Taken fourth overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1984 NBA Draft, Perkins was an All-Rookie performer in 1984-85.

He signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Lakers in August 1990 and helped L.A. to the 1991 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Bulls.

Waived by the Pacers in September 2001, Perkins opted to retire.

He is 22nd in NBA history with 1,286 games.

Next: Put The Power In Power Forward

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder