Thunder Finalize Roster Ahead of Rockets Season Opener
The Oklahoma City Thunder have finalized their roster ahead of the highly anticipated NBA season opener against the Houston Rockets. This decision comes in light of the NBA’s deadline for non-guaranteed contracts.
Final Roster Decisions
On Saturday, the defending champions waived three players to finalize their roster. Chris Youngblood was selected to fill the last two-way contract, despite a challenging preseason finale. In that game against the Denver Nuggets, Youngblood recorded a shooting performance of 2-for-10 overall and 1-for-9 from beyond the arc.
Two-Way Players
This season, the Thunder’s two-way roster consists of:
- Chris Youngblood
- Brooks Barnhizer (second-round pick)
- Branden Carlson
To make room for these players, the Thunder waived Zack Austin, Malevy Leons, and Dariq Whitehead. Austin has not yet appeared in an NBA game. Leons played six games last season, averaging 3.5 minutes per contest. Whitehead, a former first-round pick drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2023, has participated in only 22 NBA games over two seasons. At just 21 years old, he is expected to develop further with the Oklahoma City Blue, the team’s G League affiliate.
Looking Ahead to the Season Opener
The Thunder’s core lineup remains stable, featuring stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. They will aim to kick off the 2025-26 NBA season successfully against the Rockets on Tuesday, October 21.
This game holds additional significance, as the Thunder will face former player Kevin Durant, who recently joined the Rockets. The matchup is part of a nationally televised doubleheader, setting the stage for an intense game as the team begins its title defense.
