For the first time in a couple of summers, the Oklahoma City Thunder have gone through roster changes. That’s part of the pro sports business. You can’t have the same group of guys play for each other for several years in a row. With one NBA championship under their belt, they said goodbye to a couple of longtime role players.
The Thunder traded away Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins in a pair of cost-cutting moves. The two deals netted them four future second-round picks. Joe was sent to the Detroit Pistons and Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks. Not only did they help OKC bring home a Larry O’Brien, but they’re also two of their best developmental stories ever.
Joe went from a waiver-wire pickup who spent four seasons in OKC. He developed into one of the best bench outside shooters in the league. Meanwhile, Wiggins spent five seasons on the Thunder. He ascended from a late second-round pick to a double-digit scorer off the bench.
As staples in OKC’s rise from a rebuild to an NBA champion, Joe and Wiggins had a profound impact on their locker room dynamics. Both were textbook examples that if you do everything right on your own accord, then opportunities will be given to you. Thomas Sorber resonated with that. Even if they were just Thunder teammates for one year.
The Thunder added Sorber with the No. 15 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. He’s viewed as a potential frontcourt piece for the long run. But a Sept. 2025 torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 season. The 20-year-old quietly rehabbed in the background. With a second follow-up procedure done, he missed this year’s Summer League.
Sorber never had the chance to actually play with Joe and Wiggins on the court. But they shared camaraderie as teammates. He talked about their offseason departures on a recent social media livestream. Like everybody else from the Thunder who’ve reacted, he’ll miss the two familiar faces.
“I miss Wiggs and Zai. Those were my guys,” Sorber said. “Isaiah Joe was my locker room mate, so hurt a little more. Wiggs was my dog, though. He kept it real.”
Cool to see Joe and Wiggins be friendly with Sorber. After he was lost for the year, he could’ve easily fallen into isolation as he was away from the Thunder for most of the year. Instead, he tried his best to stick around the group. Even if it meant he couldn’t play.
Now, the Thunder hope Sorber can move on from his redshirt year. Considering where he was taken in the NBA draft, there are real expectations for him to help out. If OKC wants to keep its title window open as long as possible, it’ll need new faces to cede the complementary roles Joe and Wiggins held down for years.
Thomas Sorber: “I miss Wiggs and Zai. Those were my guys. Isaiah Joe was my locker room mate, so hurt a little more. Wiggs was my dog, though. He kept it real.” pic.twitter.com/tMwwyAHiMn
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) July 17, 2026
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thomas Sorber will ‘miss’ Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins following departures
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