Thomas Sorber opened the back door to the parking lot and found his car stuffed with packing peanuts, the latest joke from the Oklahoma City Thunder as the rookie worked his way back from injury. The prank, pulled on April Fools’ Day, spread quickly across social media after teammates recorded his reaction on their phones.
Jaylin Williams laughed when asked about it, first saying he did not know what anyone was talking about before calling it a “mixed thing.” He said the team “had to get him,” that “there was some stuff adding up,” and that after they “kinda let it slide for a couple of things,” this became “the last straw.”
For Sorber, 20, the joke landed during a cautious return to basketball activity. Seven months after a torn ACL he sustained in September 2025, he had ramped up his work and started taking part in some Thunder practices and pregame warmups. He did not play during the 2025-26 season after the knee injury, and he also missed the 2025 Summer League because of foot surgery.
Read Also: Thunder Vs Lakers: LeBron James out Tuesday as injury worries grow
The prank also fit the strange path Sorber has taken since the Thunder drafted him with the No. 15 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. His lone collegiate season at Georgetown was cut short by that foot surgery, and Oklahoma City has been easing him into the group while he recovers.
Williams said the joke was meant with affection, calling it “a fun thing to do” and adding that “Thomas knows we love him.” He also noted, “He’s a rookie,” and said Sorber was the first young teammate he had been around in that role.
The moment was harmless on its face, but it also showed how slowly the Thunder are bringing Sorber along. When he does play again, he will be nearly 18 months removed from his last game, with the club still balancing patience and preparation around a player it expects to fold in gradually.
