The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the most surprising teams of the 2023-24 NBA season. While many expected them to build a deep roster, their immediate rise to the top of the Western Conference caught everyone off guard.
Instead of gradually climbing the ladder, they became instant contenders. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren forming their “Big 3,” they secured the No. 1 seed in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Their season ended in the second round, losing to the Dallas Mavericks. However, there’s still plenty of reason for optimism among Oklahoma City fans. Their core was the youngest in NBA history to win a playoff series.
With the added experience from both the regular season and the playoffs, the team is expected to improve. That’s not to mention the moves Sam Presti made during the offseason. The additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein should fill key gaps in the roster.
With momentum and fan excitement building, how will the 2024-25 season unfold for the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Another Finish Atop the West
The most dangerous aspect of this Thunder team is that they’re only going to get better. Nearly the entire rotation is under 25 and should improve with the valuable experience they gained last season. Additionally, the offseason signings of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso are perfect fits for the team.
Caruso provides a playmaker off the bench who is also an elite point-of-attack defender. In Hartenstein, they’ve addressed their biggest issue from last season—rebounding—by adding a true bruiser at the center spot. Hartenstein averaged more than nine rebounds per game for the New York Knicks last season, the best mark on his new team.
These additions, along with internal growth from their young core, will only improve the team. Last season, they held the No. 1 seed by a single game over the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. A similar regular-season performance seems inevitable this year.
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Outside of the Timberwolves, no team in the West has made significant enough strides to threaten their position. So, expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to once again finish near the top of the Western Conference standings.
Chet Holmgren Enters DPOY Conversation
One of the biggest X-factors for the Thunder heading into next season is Chet Holmgren. When he first entered the league, concerns about his physicality were rampant and understandable.
At 7-foot-1 and 208 pounds, Holmgren was on the lighter side. Given the league’s physical nature, questions about his durability seemed legitimate at the time. However, Holmgren put those doubts to rest during his rookie year. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year race, behind only Victor Wembanyama.
In any other year, his performance—combined with his importance on a contender like Oklahoma City—would have earned him the award. Starting for the Thunder, he averaged 16.5 points and 8 rebounds per game, shooting 53% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. But what truly set him apart was his defense. Holmgren averaged 2.3 blocks per game, regularly posting 5-plus block games.
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Last season, Wembanyama was in the Defensive Player of the Year race, finishing second only to Rudy Gobert. With Holmgren’s continued growth, expect him to be in the DPOY conversation as well.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Misses Out on MVP…Again
Unfortunately for the Thunder, while their team success will be undeniable, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have to wait at least one more year for his first MVP award.
Despite OKC’s stellar record and positioning, this is Luka Dončić’s award to lose. The MVP race is often driven by narrative as much as by statistics, and Luka has a slight edge over Shai in that regard.
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Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in MVP voting, and his playoff loss to Dončić will give voters another reason to lean toward Luka. As a result, even though Gilgeous-Alexander will be a significant part of the conversation, the actual MVP victory will elude him for now.
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