No. 44 threads through Thunder lore, worn by 15 players dating back to the Seattle era. The first to bear it was Rod Thorn, a West Virginia product who went No. 2 in 1963 to the Baltimore Bullets, then logged stops with Detroit and St. Louis before Seattle’s 1967 expansion. The jersey’s history links Seattle’s origins with the Thunder’s present, illustrating a cross-city lineage that enriches the franchise’s identity for fantasy-minded fans.

Sixers face a health-heavy reset with Paul George and Joel Embiid returning from surgeries as Tyrese Maxey anchors a young core. Blunt predictions from Jeff Teague highlight durability risk, while Edgecombe, McCain, and the potential return of Quentin Grimes could reshape the rotation. The club eyes a plausible play‑in push if the big two stay healthy, with Grimes adding 18 ppg if he rejoins the lineup.

Jersey No. 43 threads through the Thunder/Sonics lineage with Kenny McIntosh as the latest notable wearer. McIntosh, who wore 40 and 43 for Seattle after being drafted 15th overall by the Bulls in 1971, posted 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his Sonics years. Four players total wore 43 in franchise history, and the piece ties the Sonics era to the Thunder’s ongoing jersey-number archive, highlighting nostalgia’s role in framing contemporary fantasy narratives.

OKC Thunder could lean into end-of-quarter heaves in 2025-26 under a new rule that awards successful last-second shots as three-pointers and labels misses as team misses. Kenrich Williams has the clearest track record for attempts (7 across 7 seasons), making him the most likely Thunder candidate to push volume if the team pursues late-game variance. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe have shown limited histories with heaves, but none match Williams. The piece notes no Thunder has yet converted a last-second heave, yet the new rule creates a pathway for multiple players to test the buzzer with range and decision-making at stake.

NBA offseason wrap: 30 teams head to camp with rosters largely set but holes persist, from Hawks' second-unit playmaking to Nuggets' point guard depth and Warriors' contract gridlock. The piece distills each club's single biggest roster hole and tees up fantasy implications for 2025-26, emphasizing internal development versus midseason moves.