Thomas Sorber likely won't play in 2026 NBA Summer League

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images

Well, Thomas Sorber's long-awaited return to the court will need to wait. Hoping to suit up for the 2026 Summer League, the 20-year-old had his wishes tossed to the bin. Sam Presti popped the balloon of hope and excitement that he'd play in the multi-week extravaganza.

In his 2025-26 end-of-season press conference, Presti let folks know that Sorber likely won't suit up for the 2026 Summer League. He missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL he sustained in Sept. 2025. The longtime NBA GM cited the timing of the surgery for likely being out.

"I don't think he'll be ready to go for Summer League. We want to be a little careful. If you remember, Topic's surgery was in July and Sorber was later. So I think we're going to miss it by just a little bit," Presti said. "But he's made great progress. He looks great."

That's kinda a bummer. After the Oklahoma City Thunder fell in Game 7 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals, the next thing in the NBA's year-round calendar is the 2026 NBA draft and Summer League. It's the one time of the year when every franchise feels some level of optimism and excitement.

For the Thunder, that featured possibly seeing Sorber. He's recovered in the background as OKC's back-to-back ambitions fell short. He was added with the No. 15 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. He spent one collegiate season at Georgetown. Undergoing foot surgery in Feb. 2025, he'll likely now go 20 months between games as his next opportunity will be the 2026-27 preseason slate.

"He just dove into his rehab. His work capacity has impressed me," Presti said. "Obviously, all the reasons we drafted him, just great ability to pass, he's physical and I think his body's gotten better through this year."

Enjoying spotless roster continuity over the last few years, the Thunder are about to undergo some changes in the supporting cast. Such is life in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are the franchise pillars, but the rest of the rotation could see new faces. Sorber is one of those candidates.

For at least another three months, Sorber will remain a mystery box. Considering Nikola Topic's short NBA run and whoever they add with the No. 12 pick and beyond, OKC could enter the upcoming year with the back of its bench restocked with youth and inexperience.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thomas Sorber likely won't play in 2026 NBA Summer League

Continue reading...