The Oklahoma City Thunder have built their roster through the NBA draft for decades, selecting players from major programs and smaller colleges alike. This includes two players drafted from Mercer University, though neither ultimately made the team's regular season roster.
The franchise, dating back to its days as the Seattle SuperSonics, selected forward Tony Gattis in the 1983 NBA Draft. He was taken in the 7th round as the 16th pick, 155th overall. Gattis played four seasons at Mercer University but did not secure a spot on the Thunder's final roster.
Two years later, the team picked another Mercer forward. Earl Walker was selected in the 6th round of the 1985 NBA Draft. He was the 6th pick in that round, 122nd overall. Walker spent two seasons with the Bears program before entering the draft. Like Gattis, he also did not make the Thunder's active team.
Oklahoma City has a long history of finding talent through the annual draft. They've acquired star players directly with their picks and through draft-day trades. The scouting net is cast wide, looking at prestigious basketball schools and smaller institutions. This approach has consistently brought high-caliber players to Oklahoma City over many years. It's a method that values potential and fit over the fame of a player's college program.
The historical draft notes come as the present-day Thunder are performing strongly. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
Examining past draft selections shows the breadth of a team's talent evaluation. It highlights the many paths players take to the NBA and the fact that not every pick pans out. For the Thunder, the Mercer University picks represent a small part of a much larger draft story. That story continues to be written with each new season and each new prospect considered.
