The Oklahoma City Thunder—and before them, the Seattle SuperSonics—have a long and colorful history when it comes to the numbers players have worn on their jerseys. Since the franchise's inception at the start of the 1967-68 season, a total of 51 different jersey numbers have been sported by players who suited up for the team.
While the Sonics' chapter in NBA history remains significant, their jerseys are still very much a part of the Thunder's story today. Of course, if Seattle were to get an NBA team again, as was the case when the Charlotte Hornets name returned, the fate of those jerseys in franchise history might change. But for now, they remain an integral piece of Oklahoma City’s legacy.
In this ongoing series, Thunder Wire is diving deep into the numbers and the players who proudly wore them. Today, we focus on jersey No. 21—a number that has been worn by 16 different players throughout the franchise’s history.
One of the earlier players to don the No. 21 jersey was forward Gerald Paddio, who played during the Seattle SuperSonics era. Paddio, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, had an interesting journey to the NBA. After wrapping up his college basketball career at UNLV, he was selected 74th overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Back then, the draft had several more rounds than it does today, which allowed more players to get a shot at making it to the league.
However, Paddio’s path to the NBA wasn’t immediate. Instead of jumping straight into the league, he spent his first two professional seasons playing in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA)—the G League of its time—as well as overseas. It wasn’t until 1990 that he finally got his first NBA opportunity, signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
His time in the league saw him bouncing around a bit, but in 1992, he landed with the Seattle SuperSonics. Although his tenure in Seattle wasn’t particularly long, he made his mark wearing the No. 21 jersey before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 1993. During his time with the Sonics, Paddio averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Jersey numbers might seem like just a small detail in the grand scheme of a franchise, but for fans and players alike, they carry deep significance. Some numbers become legendary, associated with franchise greats, while others are worn by a rotating cast of role players who each contribute to the team’s rich history. No matter where these players land in the all-time rankings, they all share one thing in common—the honor of wearing a Thunder (or SuperSonics) jersey.
Stay tuned as we continue this series, diving into more jersey numbers and the players who helped shape the Oklahoma City Thunder and Seattle SuperSonics' legacy.
While the Sonics' chapter in NBA history remains significant, their jerseys are still very much a part of the Thunder's story today. Of course, if Seattle were to get an NBA team again, as was the case when the Charlotte Hornets name returned, the fate of those jerseys in franchise history might change. But for now, they remain an integral piece of Oklahoma City’s legacy.
However, Paddio’s path to the NBA wasn’t immediate. Instead of jumping straight into the league, he spent his first two professional seasons playing in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA)—the G League of its time—as well as overseas. It wasn’t until 1990 that he finally got his first NBA opportunity, signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
His time in the league saw him bouncing around a bit, but in 1992, he landed with the Seattle SuperSonics. Although his tenure in Seattle wasn’t particularly long, he made his mark wearing the No. 21 jersey before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in 1993. During his time with the Sonics, Paddio averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Jersey numbers might seem like just a small detail in the grand scheme of a franchise, but for fans and players alike, they carry deep significance. Some numbers become legendary, associated with franchise greats, while others are worn by a rotating cast of role players who each contribute to the team’s rich history. No matter where these players land in the all-time rankings, they all share one thing in common—the honor of wearing a Thunder (or SuperSonics) jersey.
Stay tuned as we continue this series, diving into more jersey numbers and the players who helped shape the Oklahoma City Thunder and Seattle SuperSonics' legacy.
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