The 2014–15 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 7th season of the franchise in Oklahoma City and the 48th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Thunder would suffer from injuries, mainly to Kevin Durant, who underwent surgery and was shut down for the rest of the season. Despite this, the Thunder remained in playoff contention, but a four-game losing streak at the beginning of April cost them as they finished 45–37 tied with the New Orleans Pelicans and were eliminated on a head-to-head matchup tie breaker. The Thunder missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009, resulting in Scott Brooks's firing 1 week after the conclusion of the regular season. This was the last time until 2021 that the Thunder missed the playoffs.
The Thunder finished the 2013–14 season 59–23 to finish in first place in the Northwest Division, second in the Western Conference and qualified for the playoffs losing to the top-seeded and eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals in six games. Last season featured Kevin Durant being named the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player. Durant earned MVP honors after averaging a career-high 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 steals leading the Thunder to a 59–23 record with Russell Westbrook missing most of the season playing just 46 games.
The Thunder had two first-round picks entering the draft.[1] The Thunder traded their 2014 second-round pick in the Ronnie Brewer trade from the New York Knicks back in 2013 which was later traded by the Knicks to the Toronto Raptors.[2] The Thunder's other first-round pick was originally acquired from the Houston Rockets as a result of the James Harden trade in 2012.[3]
On draft night, the Thunder traded cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the draft rights to Semaj Christon, the fifty-fifth pick.[4]
The Thunder ended 2014 NBA draft night with Michigan center Mitch McGary, Stanford forward Josh Huestis and Xavier guard Semaj Christon.[5]
On June 27, the Thunder traded cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the draft rights to Semaj Christon, the fifty-fifth pick.[6]
On July 15, the Thunder signed-and-trade Thabo Sefolosha and the draft rights to Georgios Printezis to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis.[7] The Thunder also generated a trade exception worth $4 million.[8] On August 26, the Thunder traded Hasheem Thabeet and cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 2015 protected second-round pick while also generating another trade exception worth $1.25 million.[9][10]
For this offseason, free agency began on July 1, 2014, while the July moratorium ended on July 10. Caron Butler, Derek Fisher and Thabo Sefolosha were set to hit unrestricted free agency while Grant Jerrett was set to hit restricted free agency. Before the start of the 2013-14 season, Fisher announced his plans to retire following the season after 3 seasons with the Thunder.[11] On July 3, it was reported that Thabo Sefolosha agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, which he later signed on July 15.[12][13] That same day, Caron Butler signed a deal with the Detroit Pistons.[14] On July 16, Grant Jerrett agreed to a deal to stay with the Thunder.[15]
On July 15, Sebastian Telfair signed a deal with the Thunder. Telfair spent nine seasons in the NBA before playing internationally with the Tianjin Ronggang in the CBA.[16] On July 12, it was reported that Anthony Morrow agreed to a three-year, $10 million deal with the Thunder, which he later signed on July 16. Morrow spent the 2013-14 season with the New Orleans Pelicans.[17][18] On August 14, Lance Thomas signed a deal with the Thunder. Thomas spent three seasons in the NBA, splitting time with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Foshan Dralions in the CBA during the 2013-14 season.
On July 5, the Thunder announced Darko Rajaković as an assistant coach. Rajaković joins the Thunder after serving as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the last two seasons.[19]
On October 12, 2014, Kevin Durant was diagnosed with a fractured right foot after feeling discomfort the day before and was ruled out for 6 to 8 weeks.[20] He went on to miss the first 17 games of the season, and with Russell Westbrook also out for 14 of those 17 games with a fractured hand, the Thunder dropped to a 4–12 record prior to Westbrook's return on November 28 against the New York Knicks. Following Westbrook's return, Durant returned to action the following game on December 2 as he scored 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting in the 104–112 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.[21] With the duo back to full health, they went on to lead the Thunder on a seven-game winning streak to bring the Thunder back into playoff contention.[22] On December 18, Durant injured his ankle during the second quarter of the streak-breaking 109–114 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Durant scored 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting in the 18 minutes he was on the court before exiting the game with the injury.[23][24] He subsequently missed the following game the next night against the Los Angeles Lakers.[25] Durant returned on December 31 versus the Phoenix Suns, and played 12 games before spraining the big toe on his left foot versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 25.[26] He would play only six more games the rest of the season, having a procedure on February 22 to replace a screw that was causing soreness in his surgically repaired right foot.[27] It was announced on March 21 that the Thunder might be without Durant for the rest of the season.[28] The team then decided to shut down Durant for the remainder of the season after determining that he would need a third surgery on his right foot.[29] Without Durant, the Thunder finished the season just missing the playoffs, missing the 8th seed by tiebreaker to the New Orleans Pelicans.[30]
After all games.[31]
‡ Waived during the season
† Traded during the season
≠ Acquired during the season
