Which OKC Thunder player made the deepest run in the NCAA Tournament? It may surprise you
March Madness is here.
It's no shock that many players on the Oklahoma City Thunder are familiar with the spectacle that is the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Including those on a two-way contract, 12 of the Thunder's 18 players have suited up for an NCAA Tournament game.
Here are the five deepest NCAA Tournament runs by Thunder players:
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T5: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Kentucky 2017-18) and Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga 2021-22): Sweet 16
Both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren reached the Sweet 16 in their lone college basketball season.
Gilgeous-Alexander led a stacked 2017-18 Kentucky team that featured future NBA players such as the Dallas Mavericks' PJ Washington and the Los Angeles Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt.
Still, the No. 5-seeded Wildcats suffered a 61-58 loss to No. 9 Kansas State in the Sweet 16. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 20.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and six assists during the tournament run.
Holmgren also played on a stacked 2021-22 Gonzaga team. It featured future NBA players such as the Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard and the Denver Nuggets' Julian Strawther.
The No. 1-seeded Bulldogs ultimately suffered a 74-68 loss to No. 4 Arkansas in the Sweet 16. Holmgren averaged 9.7 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks during the tournament run.
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4. Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State (2022-23): Elite Eight
Keyontae Johnson was a go-to player on a 2022-23 Kansas State team that reached the Elite Eight.
The Wildcats entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed, and they went on to defeat powerhouse programs such as Kentucky and Michigan State.
Kansas State's journey came to an end in the Elite Eight when it got upset by No. 9 Florida Atlantic, 72-71. Johnson averaged 15.5 points and five rebounds throughout the tournament run.
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3. Jaylin Williams, Arkansas (2020-21 and 2021-22): Elite Eight
Jaylin Williams gets sole possession of the No. 3 spot on this list because he helped Arkansas reach the Elite Eight twice.
Williams played a small role in the Razorbacks' 2020-21 run, but he was a key contributor the following season. He helped No. 4-seeded Arkansas defeat a Holmgren-led Gonzaga team in the Sweet 16.
Arkansas then suffered a 78-69 loss to No. 2 Duke. Williams finished the tournament with averages of 14.3 points and 11.8 points.
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2. Gordon Hayward, Butler (2009-10): NCAA runner-up
In one of the most memorable runs in NCAA Tournament history, Gordon Hayward led No. 5-seeded Butler to the 2009-10 championship game.
The Bulldogs fell in heartbreaking fashion to No. 1 Duke, 61-59, and Hayward narrowly missed a halfcourt shot at the buzzer.
Hayward finished the tournament with averages of 15.8 points and seven rebounds.
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1. Adam Flagler, Baylor (2020-21): Championship
Only one OKC player boasts an NCAA championship, and that's Adam Flagler.
He was a redshirt sophomore when he helped No. 1-seeded Baylor win the 2020-21 title. The Bears defeated Villanova, which featured former OKC player Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and Williams' Arkansas team along the way.
Baylor earned an 86-70 win over No. 1 Gonzaga in the championship game. Flagler averaged 10.7 points and two rebounds throughout the title run.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Which OKC Thunder players made deep NCAA Tournament runs?
