Hearing his name in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie center Thomas Sorber's eyes filled with joy. The Thunder selected Sorber 15th overall last year, but he hasn't played a single game due to injury, a path Chet Holmgren knows well. After Oklahoma City selected the All-Star forward second overall in the 2022 draft, Holmgren suffered a right foot injury and forfeited the 2022-23 campaign.

Sorber spent 2025-26 recovering from an ACL injury. Taking in any and every piece of advice from teammates while sidelined, Sorber says Holmgren's resonated most last season.

“Chet has told me to always be patient. Listen to what the medical staff has for you because they helped him shape to where he's at today,” Sorber tells ClutchPoints. “He's just telling me to dial into whatever the medical staff has for you, and I promise you'll get better at the end of the day, because it always gets better at the end of the day. So, that's one thing.

“Not just Chet, but mainly everybody on the team has taught me just to be patient with certain things, especially with my rehab, just to be patient.”

Fortunately, Thomas Sorber grew accustomed to patience long before the Thunder drafted him out of Georgetown. Staying the course, knowing there will be a payoff, was instilled at a young age. Early-morning commutes from his hometown in New Jersey to Philadelphia, where Thomas attended Archbishop Ryan High School, offered perspective years before he blossomed into an NBA prospect.

It's what flashed across his eyes when NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced Thomas as the Thunder's 15th overall pick, thinking back to the days when he hoped his hard work and dedication would ultimately lead to such a defining moment. He knew it wouldn't last forever, and nothing was promised, which only made Sorber work harder throughout the latter half of his high school years.

“Before the Thunder had their pick, I was told that I was going to get picked by them. So, once they told me, all of the emotions just rushed through my head,” Sorber said. “All the memories were coming back from when I was younger, and the struggles I've been through, just going from point A to point B.

“When I went to high school in Philly, I was taking the train from six in the morning to get to school at 7:30. Everything rushed through my mind at that moment. I heard my name called, and then everything just came out — tears of joy.”

After averaging 14.5 points on 53.2% shooting, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, Sorber was named to the All-Big East third team as a freshman, becoming the first Georgetown basketball player in 12 years to do so. Despite his physical limitations due to recovering from a foot injury during pre-draft workouts, several teams met with Thomas, who was considered a potential lottery pick.

NBA teams selecting between Nos. 8 through 17, including the Brooklyn Nets, the Atlanta Hawks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, expressed interest in Sorber. However, something about the Thunder's meeting stood out.

“Every team that I visited, they all said they really liked me, but with the Thunder, I felt something different,” Sorber said. “I felt like I was not needed there, but I felt love there. I felt like they really wanted me to come there.”

Now, 15 months removed from draft night, Sorber's preparing for his long-awaited Thunder debut. He's looking forward to showing the organization that took a chance on him what he can do.

Thomas Sorber's road to recovery throughout Thunder's 2025-26 campaign

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Thunder's Thomas Sorber reminds me that, despite being drafted over a year ago, he's still a rookie. Sorber spent the offseason working out with Aday Mara, Otega Oweh, and Bennett Stirtz, all of whom were selected in this year's draft. However, Thomas got his first taste of playoff basketball last season.

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He doesn't take that experience for granted. The 2025 defending champion Thunder made a deep run, which ended in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs. Sorber saw a shift in his team's approach throughout the postseason.

“Throughout the playoffs, you can tell it's a different edge towards every game. 82 games is a long season. You've got to focus on different opponents every night,” Sorber told ClutchPoints. “But in the playoffs, you're just focused on one opponent — that one battle. You're just trying to win that one game. So, trying to win one game at a time — that was the mentality through the entire playoffs.

“Game 7, we went in with the same mentality. Just trying to win each battle in order to win the game, and the Spurs just ended up winning more battles than us, and that's what led them to the NBA Finals.”

In preparing for his return, Thomas Sorber participated in on-court Thunder workouts while taking care of his body off the court. One way he's done that is with Quest Nutrition, which he credits as a preferred option for NBA players.

“Quest has definitely played a big part in giving the protein that I need,” Sorber said. “Also, Quest does a great job of not really prioritizing nutrition over taste. They have both taste and nutrition. Their protein milkshakes are one of the best protein shakes I think I've ever had. If I'm not in the mood for that, I'll probably go with a Snack Bar, or if I'm in the mood for something salty, I'll do one of their Quest Protein Chips. They have plenty of different options to tailor to your taste — that's what I really like about them.”

As for work on the court, Sorber spent part of his summer training with All-Star Chet Holmgren, as well as other Thunder teammates ahead of the upcoming season.

“I definitely got a couple of shots up with Chet. Got a couple of shots up with the rookies as well,” Sorber said. “I've been working out with the rookies, mainly because I'm a rookie again this year. Trying to get a taste of everybody, working out with different types of people, seeing what they do in their workout — maybe I can add it to mine.”

On expectations, Sorber says Thunder fans can expect passion, dedication, and the utmost effort, especially on the defensive end of the floor, where he hangs his hat, believing it's where he can make his presence most felt in 2026-27.

“Definitely a lot of excitement, definitely a lot of hustle plays, a lot of defense; just a bit of everything,” Sorber said. “Anything the team needs me to really do, I'll be there to do. If they need me to lock down the best player, I'll be there to do it. Any objective they want me to do, I'll be there to do it.”

After spending nearly a year and a half on the sidelines, Sorber's ready for his Thunder debut. He's dedicated the past decade to this opportunity: a lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.