Sam Presti and company may have found their center of the future in 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber, but his path to the pros will now include a detour familiar to OKC Thunder fans.
After suffering an ACL tear during a workout last week, the hope of seeing Sorber’s on-court impact is now on hold. Of course, for an organization renowned for its patience and long-term vision, this development is less a catastrophe and more a recalibration of the timeline for a player they see as a possible cornerstone.
This is not uncharted territory for Oklahoma City. The franchise has a recent history of integrating top talents through a “redshirt” season of sorts.
Thunder have had a surprising amount of success with ‘redshirt’ rookies
Most notably, Chet Holmgren missed his entire first year back in 2022-23 and used his time off to add strength and study the NBA game. He would ultimately return the following year and finished as the runner-up for NBA Rookie of the Year, establishing himself as a tremendous frontcourt floor spacer and a true defensive enforcer.
Similarly, Nikola Topic, another highly-touted prospect who slid in the 2024 NBA Draft due to injury, spent his first year rehabbing and learning the system and is now poised for a potential breakout season as a key part of the rotation.
For Sorber, this injury-induced hiatus can be viewed as a blessing in disguise. In a sense, it’s a chance for him to recoup with zero pressure, immerse himself in the Thunder’s world-class medical and development program, and learn the nuances of NBA life without the immediate pressures of performance expectations.
During his one-and-done season at Georgetown, the big man showcased the very tools that made him a Presti pick, posting impressive averages of 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks.
He projects as the natural long-term successor to Isaiah Hartenstein, possessing a nuanced understanding of how to operate as an offensive hub. His comfort in facilitating from the high post, executing dribble handoffs, and making smart reads as a passer out of the short roll points to a modern, versatile offensive weapon.
Defensively, his potential is just as tantalizing. He posted a 96.7 defensive rating with the Hoyas and held opponents to 0.846 points per possession in isolation, underscoring the mobility and rim protection that define OKC’s switch-heavy system.
Sam Presti has consistently built his Thunder rosters by targeting young players with high IQ, versatility, and an unselfish nature. Sorber checks all of these boxes.
With Hartenstein under contract for two more seasons, the pressure for Sorber to contribute immediately was always minimal. This injury simply reinforces that the Thunder are playing the long game, and why panic should lessen.
Given the franchise’s proven track record of maximizing young talent, Sorber remains in an ideal situation to reach his full potential.
This setback delays the start of his story but does little to change its anticipated ending. Fans can realistically expect him to take a “Chet-style” stash year, using the time to get stronger and more familiar with the NBA game, before returning with the same tantalizing two-way potential that made him a first-round pick in the first place.
For Oklahoma City, Thomas Sorber wasn’t drafted for what he could do this year, but for the dominant two-way force he is poised to become in the years to come.
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