After creating within the background over the previous few years, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder re-entered the nationwide dialog after they took the league by storm final season with a prime seed.
Now on the NBA radar, OKC enters the 2024-25 season as a heavy title favourite.
The additional consideration is good. It is a signal of respect from the league that it takes the Thunder severely. However being within the nationwide highlight additionally has its downsides. One is sensationalism. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins confirmed this when he gave the Thunder a pep discuss throughout an “NBA At the moment” phase.
“I do not need to hear that there are not any expectations. Hell, the expectation is to get there,” Perkins mentioned. “A minimum of get to the NBA Finals. You are the one workforce within the Western Convention, in my view, that checks all of the bins… You’ve got SGA, who’s a younger famous person on this league. You’ve got Chet, who I will be a younger famous person on this league.”
Perkins then listed the offseason additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. The 2 veterans additional solidified OKC’s place among the many league’s elite. He additionally talked concerning the growth of Jalen Williams. They are going to be counted on to finish the six finest gamers within the Thunder rotation.
“You stuffed the void by getting Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. JDub goes to return into his personal. You’ve got the taking pictures; Isaiah Joe is an elite shooter,” Perkins mentioned. “You’ve got all of the items… That is your yr to get to the NBA Finals. I do not need to hear anything.”
Expectations are very excessive in OKC proper now. However the excellent news is that it is neither now nor ever. This isn’t a university workforce filled with blue-chip gamers. Given the Thunder’s youth, they may have a number of bites on the apple. This would be the second time after an elimination within the second spherical final yr. If Perkins is right, an NBA Finals look might be fairly an accomplishment.
The previous NBA heart was on the final Thunder workforce to achieve this level in 2012. In the event that they return, Perkins will doubtless return to OKC to cowl the 2025 NBA Finals.
This text was initially revealed on OKC Thunder Wire: Kendrick Perkins believes OKC Thunder has sufficient to advance to the NBA Finals
