A flurry of trades and roster moves in recent years has sent away most of the players who established the Oklahoma City Thunder brand.
Suddenly, after trading Steven Adams and others, and not re-signing Andre Roberson, the longest tenured player on the Thunder is in his third year as a pro.
Hamidou Diallo, the 45th pick in the 2018 draft, has been on Oklahoma City longer than any of his teammates.
“It’s definitely crazy but it’s definitely an opportunity,” Diallo said on a Zoom call with media Wednesday. “It’s great to be that person, especially knowing what this program brings and knowing what this city’s about.”
Adams spent seven seasons with the Thunder before he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason. Terrance Ferguson, drafted by OKC in 2017, was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Dennis Schroder and Abdel Nader were here for two seasons before being traded, and Nerlens Noel (two seasons) and Roberson (since 2013) were not re-signed.
Diallo said he’s excited for the extra leadership responsibility that title will bring as he shares not only experience on the court but within the organization.
“With position that we’re in, with older guys that have left, that have been here for a long time that laid the platform out that showed us what it means to wear these jerseys and play for this amazing city, it’s a tradition that you have to keep putting forward for the new guys,” he said.
