With the Oklahoma City ThunderWith the 2024-25 season schedule released, many eyes will be on the Thunder. Thunder 2024-25 seasonwe will make our predictions on the Thunder season.
Oklahoma City had a breakout campaign in the 2023-24 season, finishing as the top seed in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the group, finishing second for MVP honors. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and two steals per game. He shot 53.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range.
The 26-year-old is one of the best players in the league and the leader of this young and talented Thunder team. Alongside Gilgeous-Alexander are two other star guards, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Williams had a breakout campaign in his sophomore season, averaging 19.1 points, four rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 54 percent from the floor and 42.7 percent from deep. His defense and ability to play on or off the ball on offense make him extremely valuable.
Holmgren had a great season as a rookie, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Victor Wembanyama. Holmgren averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. On offense, Holmgren shot well, shooting 53 percent from the field and 37 percent from downtown.
While Oklahoma City has a good core in place, Sam Presti hasn’t been content with that roster as he’s made upgrades this offseason. The Thunder acquired Alex Caruso, defensive guard in a trade while signing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. These additions add a ton of depth to the rotation and make Oklahoma City one of the best teams in the league.
With that said, let’s move on to our bold predictions for the 2024-25 Thunder.
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Thunder advance to NBA Finals
While there are plenty of talented teams in the West, Oklahoma City has a solid roster. The Thunder have stars like Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren, but the depth added this offseason will make a difference.
Caruso is a major upgrade over Josh Giddey because of his ability to play as a three-point, one-block wing. The 30-year-old point guard is coming off a career season with the Chicago Bulls, averaging 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and one block per game. Caruso shot 46.8 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from beyond the arc.
While Caruso isn’t a star, his role as a defender and shooter will be a big help. He also has championship experience, having played a vital role for the Los Angeles Lakers during their run to the title in 2020.
The other addition, Hartenstein, should also be an impact player. The development of young players on their bench unitlike Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams, would help them even more. With this elite team, the Thunder should make an appearance in the NBA Finals.
Thunder ranks among top defensive teams
While the Thunder’s roster is talented on offense, its strength lies on the defensive side of the ball. Oklahoma City finished the 2023-24 season as a top-five defensive team and improved in the offseason.
Caruso’s elite defense, alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, creates one of the best defensive back lines in basketball. Up front, the Thunder have Williams and Lu Dort, two quality point defenders.
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Oklahoma City has Holmgren and Hartenstein, two quality defenders in the big positions. Holmgren excels on the block, while Hartenstein is more aggressive in the low defense. With all that defensive talent, the Thunder should finish the season as the top defense.
Chet Holmgren Named to All-Defensive Team
Although Holmgren was not selected to the All-Defensive Team in his rookie campaign, he showed his abilities as a high-level blocker. However, Holmgren struggled to compete against physical centers, which was evident in the playoffs against Jonas Valanciunas, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
The Hartenstein signing will allow Holmgren to play in formations where they are together on the field. This should help Holmgren thrive, as he can continue to be an elite blocker without having to face physical bigs. With Holmgren transitioning into an ideal defensive role, he should make the All-Defensive Team.
After a great offseason, Oklahoma City has a promising season ahead of them. With the amount of talent the Thunder have, fans should be excited because they are destined to have a big season.
