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The OKC Thunder has three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, which will be from June 23-24.
OKC owns picks No. 12 (via the Los Angeles Clippers), No. 17 (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and No. 37 (via the Dallas Mavericks). It's looking to add to a roster that reached the Western Conference finals this past season.
There's a chance that the Thunder doesn't use all three picks since roster spots are limited. It could package some to move up in the draft or trade for future picks.
But in this article, we'll look at five prospects OKC could select with pick No. 37:
More: 2026 NBA Draft workout tracker: Who have OKC Thunder targeted?
Admittedly, there's a good chance Jefferson won't be on the board this late in the draft. He projects to be selected in the first round, likely in the late 20s. But that isn't too far off from pick No. 37, and Jefferson is still worth discussing because of just how much he brings to the table. The 6-9 forward has two-way impact as someone with good playmaking skills at his size, solid overall scoring and defensive versatility. Maybe his inconsistent 3-point shot and the fact that he's will make him slip into the second round. And if that happens, he'd provide great value.
Karaban contributes to winning, as seen by his four seasons at UConn. The Huskies went a combined 126-28 (81.8%) during that time, and the 6-8 forward started in all but one game. Despite not being the most athletic prospect, Karaban is a great connecting piece who does a bit of everything. He provides good floor spacing, moves well without the ball and makes the right passes. Defensive limitations and age will weigh Karaban, 23, down on draft boards. But he's still a good basketball player, which is sometimes all you're looking for in the second round.
Sharp is another older prospect at 22, having spent all five seasons with Houston. And he's another guy who contributed to winning on a powerhouse program. Sharp is a confident 3-point shooter who went 37.6% from deep throughout his career, and he's also impactful on the other end. He's a tenacious on-ball defender who stays glued to his target, using his strength to fight through screens and his good understanding of positional angles to not get blown past. A winning player who can shoot and defend sounds exactly like someone OKC would be interested in.
More: Five biggest questions for OKC Thunder entering 2026 NBA offseason
After spending his first three seasons at Arkansas State, Nelson transferred to South Florida and put up strong numbers. The 6-10 forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks on 56.1% shooting from the field. Nelson is a defensive menace who uses his size and length to block shots and deflect passes, and he's also a relentless rebounder. Floor spacing is a work in progress for the big man, who shot 15.3% from 3 throughout college. But his energy on defense and the glass makes him worthy of second-round consideration.
Ejiofor is even more of an undersized big man than Nelson. And while that'll likely keep the 6-9 forward out of the first round, it shouldn't keep him from going in the second. Ejiofor has the strength to stand his ground defensively against larger opponents, but he also has the speed and smarts to switch onto smaller ones. That helped him average 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals as a senior last season. Ejiofor's elite motor makes him a constant presence on the boards as well, and he even has some good playmaking abilities on offense. There's a lot to like about his game.
More: Here's what OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti said during end-of-season news conference
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who should OKC Thunder select with No. 37 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
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OKC owns picks No. 12 (via the Los Angeles Clippers), No. 17 (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and No. 37 (via the Dallas Mavericks). It's looking to add to a roster that reached the Western Conference finals this past season.
There's a chance that the Thunder doesn't use all three picks since roster spots are limited. It could package some to move up in the draft or trade for future picks.
But in this article, we'll look at five prospects OKC could select with pick No. 37:
More: 2026 NBA Draft workout tracker: Who have OKC Thunder targeted?
Who should Thunder select with No. 37 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
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Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Admittedly, there's a good chance Jefferson won't be on the board this late in the draft. He projects to be selected in the first round, likely in the late 20s. But that isn't too far off from pick No. 37, and Jefferson is still worth discussing because of just how much he brings to the table. The 6-9 forward has two-way impact as someone with good playmaking skills at his size, solid overall scoring and defensive versatility. Maybe his inconsistent 3-point shot and the fact that he's will make him slip into the second round. And if that happens, he'd provide great value.
Alex Karaban, UConn
Karaban contributes to winning, as seen by his four seasons at UConn. The Huskies went a combined 126-28 (81.8%) during that time, and the 6-8 forward started in all but one game. Despite not being the most athletic prospect, Karaban is a great connecting piece who does a bit of everything. He provides good floor spacing, moves well without the ball and makes the right passes. Defensive limitations and age will weigh Karaban, 23, down on draft boards. But he's still a good basketball player, which is sometimes all you're looking for in the second round.
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Sharp is another older prospect at 22, having spent all five seasons with Houston. And he's another guy who contributed to winning on a powerhouse program. Sharp is a confident 3-point shooter who went 37.6% from deep throughout his career, and he's also impactful on the other end. He's a tenacious on-ball defender who stays glued to his target, using his strength to fight through screens and his good understanding of positional angles to not get blown past. A winning player who can shoot and defend sounds exactly like someone OKC would be interested in.
More: Five biggest questions for OKC Thunder entering 2026 NBA offseason
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Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
After spending his first three seasons at Arkansas State, Nelson transferred to South Florida and put up strong numbers. The 6-10 forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks on 56.1% shooting from the field. Nelson is a defensive menace who uses his size and length to block shots and deflect passes, and he's also a relentless rebounder. Floor spacing is a work in progress for the big man, who shot 15.3% from 3 throughout college. But his energy on defense and the glass makes him worthy of second-round consideration.
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's
Ejiofor is even more of an undersized big man than Nelson. And while that'll likely keep the 6-9 forward out of the first round, it shouldn't keep him from going in the second. Ejiofor has the strength to stand his ground defensively against larger opponents, but he also has the speed and smarts to switch onto smaller ones. That helped him average 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals as a senior last season. Ejiofor's elite motor makes him a constant presence on the boards as well, and he even has some good playmaking abilities on offense. There's a lot to like about his game.
More: Here's what OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti said during end-of-season news conference
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who should OKC Thunder select with No. 37 pick in 2026 NBA Draft?
Continue reading...
