Thunder help Payton Sandfort complete 'lifelong dream' in loss to Suns

Apr 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Payton Sandfort (14) shoots a three point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Camping at the left corner spot, Payton Sandfort waved his hand up as soon as the ball touched the paint. He knows his bread and butter. The Thunder kept feeding him passes as he knocked down catch-and-shoot looks. Starting the season injured, this was a nice ribbon to tie up his first year.

The Oklahoma City Thunder finished their 2025-26 regular season with a 135-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns. With the first seed locked up, they played the finale with the end of the bench and three two-way players.

Sandfort finished with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and four rebounds. He shot 5-of-9 from 3. He also had one steal.

Scoring possessions up for grabs, Sandfort took him a handful. The 23-year-old caught fire from the outside. The Thunder gladly fed him the ball while on his heater. He eventually mixed things up when he had a handful of floaters inside the paint. Good for him and the rest of the two-way players to get their moment in the sunshine.

Sandfort was the last player to join the Thunder this season. He was signed to a two-way deal in March. That only happened after he cleared some physical hurdles. He missed all of the offseason and the start of the G League season while recovering from torn labrums in both shoulders. Brutal luck. Especially for somebody known for their outside shooting.

"It's honestly a little bit emotional. Last year on Masters Sunday, I was sitting with my dad in the basement. I just had my first shoulder surgery. Knew I had to get another one. Going through pre-drafts after a rough year and honestly, just praying that I would get an opportunity to go anywhere," Sandfort said. "I would've prayed for one NBA minute this year. To get this opportunity, exactly pretty much a year from when I was just hanging with my dad in the basement the whole pre-draft, it's really special. He got to be here today. My fiance was here. It's kinda like an important life lesson. Just never give up on yourself."

After overcoming that, the Thunder added Sandfort. He's seldom played. But he put up some serious minutes off the bench in these last two games of the regular season. Nice way for him to finish his rookie year after he had doubts about even making the NBA to begin with.

"It's a lifelong dream to play in the NBA. I think the thing I took away was, once you get out there, it's the same game you've been playing forever," Sandfort said. "The athleticism and length, it looks different, but I'm still shooting the same basketball on the same hoop."

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder help Payton Sandfort complete 'lifelong dream' in loss to Suns