The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a major blow before the new season even started. Thomas Sorber, the team's rookie selected with the 15th pick in the first round this year, will miss the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The Oklahoma City Thunder confirmed in a statement on Friday that the 19-year-old forward was injured during an offseason workout in Oklahoma City on Thursday. The team said Sober's recovery will be updated as needed, but his rookie season has been cut short.

Thorbo, a forward from Georgetown University, is one of the top prospects in this year's NBA draft. He played in 24 games during his freshman season, averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game, showcasing his versatile offensive and defensive potential.

Not only is he the first player in Georgetown's history to be directly selected into the NBA as a freshman, he is also expected to continue the glory of legendary stars such as Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson that this prestigious school has cultivated.

For the Thunder, who had just won the NBA Finals, Sauber's injury undoubtedly weakened the team's roster depth and future development plans. As a young forward with outstanding physical fitness and offensive and defensive capabilities, he had the opportunity to gradually integrate into the rotation in the new season and become a piece of the puzzle for the Thunder's young team.