It has been virtually a decade since Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder entered a daily season with expectations as excessive as these at present going through the 2024-25 workforce. Led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the 2015-16 workforce took a 3-1 lead towards the Golden State Warriors within the 2016 Western Convention Finals. It was the closest Oklahoma Metropolis got here to ‘a return to the ultimate since 2011. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a way more balanced roster, topped by a dynamic two-way wing in Jalen Williams, an imposing huge man in Chet Holmgren, and their supporting solid that makes the Thunder, a legit championship contenderone which ESPN named 4 of its gamers to its annual NBA Prime 100 checklist.
Final yr’s finalist for the league’s Most Useful Participant Award, Thunder’s Gilgeous-Alexander positioned within the high 5 to get No. 4 on ESPN’s checklist. Williams (No. 59) and Holmgren (No. 56) had been top-60 picks and newly acquired defensive guards. Alex Caruso at 87 within the high 100.
After averaging 30.1 factors, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per sport in 2023-24, many imagine Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win the MVP award in 2024 -25. Jalen Williams’ rise from position participant to All-Star (19.1 factors, 4.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per sport) final season permits the participant to 23 years to take one other leap ahead this coming season.
The identical could possibly be mentioned about Holmgren, the second general choose within the 2022 draft, as he enters his second NBA season. In his freshman marketing campaign, he averaged 16.5 factors with splits of 53/37/79.3 p.c, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a pair of.3 blocks per sport, whereas many expect a good higher effort this coming season.
After shedding 4-2 to the Dallas Mavericks within the Western Convention semifinals final yr, the Thunder upgraded their wing defender in Josh Giddy together with two-time All-Defensive guard and 2020 NBA champion Alex Caruso. The veteran 3-and-D averaged 10.1 factors, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per sport whereas making 40.8% of his threes in 2023 -24, which is the type of high-level manufacturing worthy of a slot. at n°87.
Jalen Williams’ sprained ankle in Thunder’s preseason finale deemed ‘not critical’
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Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder ahead Jalen Williams limped off the court docket within the second quarter of the Thunder’s 104-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks of their preseason finale. Head coach Mark Daigneault confirmed that Williams suffered a sprained left ankle and that an replace would come within the morning. Then J-Dub’s damage was reported as “nevermind”, in line with Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
“The sprained left ankle suffered by Oklahoma Metropolis’s Jalen Williams is ‘not critical,’ sources inform ESPN,” MacMahon reported Friday.
The Thunder will start their common season towards the Denver Nuggets subsequent Thursday.
