NBA champ Thunder lose top draft pick Sorber for season

WASHINGTON, United States — Thomas Sorber, a 19-year-old American forward taken 15th overall in June's NBA Draft by reigning champion Oklahoma City, will miss the upcoming 2025-26 season with a knee injury.

The Thunder announced on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) that the frontliner suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during an off-season workout Thursday in Oklahoma City.

The team said in a statement that Sorber will miss what would have been his rookie NBA campaign and his status would be updated as needed.

Sorber, whose family is from Liberia, was taken by the Thunder after his freshman season at Georgetown University, where he appeared in 24 games, averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocked shots and 1.5 steals over 31.3 minutes per contest.

At a college that sent the NBA such stars as Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson, Sorber was the first player in Georgetown history to be drafted directly into the NBA as a freshman.