Thunder jersey No. 40 traces an 11-name lineage across the franchise’s long arc from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Joseph Forte is the standout note in the Seattle era, the 10th player to wear No. 40 during that stretch. A UNC alum drafted 21st overall by Boston in 2001, Forte spent 2002-04 with the Sonics, donning No. 40 and averaging 1.4 points per game before his waivers in 2004. The No. 40 thread links Sonics history to the Thunder era, offering a nostalgia-infused lens on the club’s jersey lore.

The broader piece in the Jersey Numbers series emphasizes how the Seattle-to-OKC lineage survives in Thunder history, with 51 numbers worn since 1967-68. While the focus is historical, the jersey-number ritual presents a narrative that fantasy enthusiasts can savor: legacy can color team storytelling, even if it doesn’t directly translate into on-court production. Basketball-Reference data anchors the facts, underscoring Forte’s modest pro impact as a reminder that numbers tell history, not guarantees.

In short, No. 40 embodies a bridge between eras—Seattle’s past and Oklahoma City’s present—where a single digit serves as a quiet, enduring motif in a franchise’s evolving identity. For fantasy minds, it’s a fun historical nugget rather than a predictor of future value, directing attention to minutes, role, and usage for real fantasy leverage.

No. 40 in the Thunder-Sonics lineage ties Seattle’s rugged past to Oklahoma City’s present, noting 11 different players wore the number since the franchise began in 1967-68. Shawn Kemp stands as the ninth Sonics wearer, anchoring an eight-season run with 16.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, all while donning No. 40.

The jersey’s story is a chronicle of franchise evolution—from Seattle to Thunder—highlighting how one number can carry shared identity across eras. Basketball Reference provides the stats behind Kemp’s era, underscoring the frontcourt impact that helped shape the No. 40 legacy and its relevance for fantasy minds tracking historical busts and peak performances.

Thunder Wire’s jersey history series reminds fantasy players that lineage and lore can inform how we value players tied to iconic numbers, even as teams transition and rosters turn over.

Thunder and the Seattle SuperSonics share a long-running jersey-number story. No. 40 has been worn by 11 players, with Russ Schoene the eighth to wear it in Seattle’s era. Schoene posted 4.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game after a 1982 draft by Philadelphia and a stint with Indiana, before suiting up for Seattle exclusively in No. 40.

The history sits among 51 numbers used by the franchise since 1967-68, and No. 40 is the 38th jersey in this ongoing series. Basketball-Reference data anchors the profile, offering context for fantasy-minded readers who track player journeys, team legacies and the threading of past eras into current organizational lore.

This history note highlights how a single numeral can reveal a lineage of players—from early Seattle years through the present-day OKC era—helping fantasy watchers appreciate how franchise identity intertwines with player development and roster building.

Oklahoma City Thunder jersey No. 40 has a rich, multi-decade lineage, worn by 11 players since the franchise’s inception. Marvin Webster, the fifth Seattle Supersonics designation of No. 40, is the centerpiece here. Webster arrived after a high-profile 1975 draft, bounced between Denver’s ABA/NBA days, and delivered a sturdy 14.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in his season with Seattle.

The piece sits within Thunder Wire’s broader jersey-number chronicle, noting the Sonics’ era as part of Oklahoma City’s history, even as the team contemplates Seattle’s future. It emphasizes the No. 40 banner as a window into a player’s path across franchises and the franchise’s evolving identity, with Basketball Reference data anchoring the stats.

In sum, the No. 40 arc connects draft pedigree, cross-franchise moves, and a high-reward rebounding profile, while underscoring how jersey histories deepen fantasy storytelling for fans and bettors alike.