Shawn Kemp sits in the Top 5 for most rebounds in a playoff game for the franchise.
Across the eras that span nearly 60 seasons between Seattle and Oklahoma City, there have been 34 playoff appearances and one title. Of course, there have been some memorable individual performances along the way as well. This article will highlight some of the most prolific rebounding efforts in Thunder/SuperSonics franchise playoff history.
Marvin Webster – 23 rebounds (1978 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 3)
The SuperSonics were nearing their peak during this era and Webster was a big factor in the team’s success that season. He finished 10th in MVP voting during the regular season and turned things up a notch in the postseason. Webster, nicknamed ‘The Human Eraser,’ pulled down 23 boards in the SuperSonics’ 99-84 win over the Trail Blazers. Seattle bested its PNW counterpart in six games and ultimately advanced to the NBA Finals, where they would fall to the Wizards in seven games.
Tom Burleson – 20 rebounds (1976 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 4)
The 7-foot-2 big man was too much for the Suns to handle on the glass in Game 4 of their series. Burleson skied for a game-high 20 rebounds and added 26 points as well. That colossal effort wasn’t quite enough for the SuperSonics to beat the Suns that night, though, as they fell 130-114 and ultimately lost the series.
Shawn Kemp – 20 rebounds (1992 Western Conference First Round, Game 4)
Kemp was one of the all-time great players in franchise history and one of the best rebounders as well. He racked up the second-most rebounds in franchise history, in fact. He raised his game in the 1992 playoffs with a big-time 20-20 game to help close out the Warriors and advance to the next round. In that series, Kemp averaged 22.0 points, 16.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
Shawn Kemp – 20 rebounds (1992 Western Conference First Round, Game 4)
The 1992 Playoffs may have been the first time Kemp pulled down 20 boards in a playoff game, but it wasn’t the last. Kemp matched that feat five years later in an overtime win over the Suns while also adding 24 points. Seattle would go on to win the series in five games before coming up just short against the Rockets in a seven-game set in the conference semis.
Kevin Durant – 19 rebounds (2010 Western Conference First Round, Game 3)
This was Durant and the Thunder’s first trip to the playoffs after the move to Oklahoma City. Durant and the young core that also featured Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka showed a glimpse of the future in that playoff run but also had the tough draw of facing the eventual champion Lakers. Durant held his own in Game 3 with 29 points and 19 rebounds to help the Thunder get the win and avoid a 3-0 series deficit. This series would actually end up going six games and the Lakers only beat the Thunder by one point in the clincher.
