Nobody saw this coming this early, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a massive leap this season. We all knew within the next couple of seasons, that the Thunder would become a contender in the league. I don’t think anyone foreshadowed the Thunder being this good this season.
Last Season Projection
Last year, we saw flashes of this team’s potential. Even without Chet Holmgren, they were 40-42 and snuck into the play-in tournament in the West. After that, everyone agreed that we should give the Thunder a couple of seasons, and they’ll be serious contenders in the West. Led by their young superstar PG Shai Gilgeous Alexander and their young core, the sky was the limit for this group.
Going into this season, the Thunder were projected to be the 14th-best team in the league after a 16-win improvement last season. ESPN projected the Thunder to finish with 45 wins, which put them 8th in the West.
In the preseason, GM Sam Presti preached patience to all Oklahoma City Thunder fans. Saying they quote “need to finish their breakfast before they act like they’re on the cusp of something.” Basically saying that the Thunder are almost on the verge of something big but he thought they may be a few seasons away.
Team Statistics this season
But now that we are 40 games into the season, it’s safe to say that the Oklahoma City Thunder have exceeded expectations. They are 27-13 and 2nd in the Western Conference. They are among the top of the league in many team statistics.
Their 121.9 PPG puts them 3rd, they have a plus minus of 8.2 which puts them 2nd, they are tied for first in blocks per game with 6.4. They are fourth in the league in steals per game with 8.2, second in field goal percentage with 50.5. Second in 3pt percentage with 39.1 and first in free throw percentage with 83.9. They are doing all of this with an average team age of just 23 years old.
They have used their youth to their advantage and are making GM Sam Presti look like a genius for making that Paul George trade.
Star Spotlight
Now, of course, they have their core 3 guys that are leading the way for them on both ends of the floor. Shai is averaging 31.0 PPG which puts him 4th in the league. He’s also averaging a league-leading 2.3 Steals per game. His numbers this season have put him in the top 5 in the MVP conversation.
Jalen Williams has been an under-the-radar player for OKC for the past couple of years. This season, he has firmly stepped into the Robin role of Shai’s Batman. He is averaging 18.6 PPG, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists a night and has been there to pick up the slack when Shai is struggling or getting doubled.
Then, of course, they have Chet Holmgren, who was out all last season with a foot injury. It’s safe to say that Chet has impacted this team like a veteran, especially on the defensive end. His 2.5 Blocks per game are currently fifth in the league. He has had multiple games this season where he has blocked 9 shots. He’s making the painted area impossible to score in. He also adds 17.4 PPG and 7.3 rebounds a night, with an impressive 38.7% on his 3 balls this season.
The Thunder also have a great supporting cast. They have a 3-point sniper, Isiah Joe, Lu Dort, a great on-ball defender, and Josh Giddey, a great all-around player.
What Does the Future Hold?
The future is bright for this young team, and they look like they are ready to make their first playoff appearance this season. I am personally very excited to see how far this team can go with their very very limited playoff experience.
Now I want to ask all of you, how far can this team go in the playoffs? Will they run into a tough, experienced playoff team early and lose? Or will they surprise everyone and possibly make a run?