Oklahoma City Thunder: 2024-25 season preview

NBA basketball is back, with the 2024-25 season already underway and opening night beginning Tuesday. The Oklahoma City Thunder will ultimately only play on the third night of the season, but will be one of the main games on Thursday in the duel with the Denver Nuggets.

This team is expected to be a contender and will be in the race for a spot at the top of the Western Conference again. Even then, this is a very young and inexperienced team that still has a lot to learn.

What can we expect from the Thunder in the 2024-25 season?

schedule

The Thunder's 82-game schedule begins on the road in Denver against a rival Nuggets team. Given how busy Oklahoma City's division is, the Thunder's schedule will be very tough compared to many other teams in the league.

Despite the hype surrounding this team, Oklahoma City is not included in the Christmas Day or MLK Day schedules. This is largely due to the challenges of being a small team, but the Thunder will still have a solid presence on national television, with 15 games broadcast on ESPN, ABC and TNT three of which will take place in OKC. Additionally, the Thunder will appear on 10 NBA TV broadcasts, meaning over 30% (25 games) of their programming will be shown to a broader audience. OKC will maintain its tradition of playing the Minnesota Timberwolves, a fellow Western Conference contender, on New Year's Eve. This is the 16th consecutive year the Thunder have played on this day, with a record of 12-4 over that span.

Overall, Oklahoma City is expected to play 16 consecutive games this season, which is the most games in the league. They will also host four homestands of at least four games, including two five-game stretches in mid-November and another beginning in late December. The team will also face many road challenges, including two road blows over four games that will test the Thunder regardless of the opponent.

Final roster

Unlike previous years, the Thunder had a quiet training camp and didn't have to make any important roster decisions. Therefore, the final 15-man squad contained no surprises and is in line with expectations for many weeks.

Oklahoma City's core remains largely the same, but there will be a few new faces on opening night.

• Aaron Wiggins
• Alex Caruso
• Alex Reese
• Cason Wallace
• Chet Holmgren
• Dillon Jones
• Isaiah Hartenstein
• Isaiah Joe
• Jalen Williams
• Jaylin Williams
• Kenrich Williams
• Luguentz there
• Nikola theme
• Ousmane Dieng
• Shai Gilgeous Alexander
• Adam Flagler*
• Ajay Mitchell*
• Alex Ducas*

_{*Bilateral contract}

Expected starters

There is a spot in the starting lineup available after Josh Giddey's departure to the Chicago Bulls. Theoretically, there are a few players who could fill this spot, but the most likely fit is Alex Caruso. Otherwise, the other four starters should be the same as last season.

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander
2. Lu There
3. Alex Caruso
4. Jalen Williams
5. Chet Holmgren

While these are the likely starters on opening night, that may not be the case all season. Depending on the matchup, the Thunder has enough reliable players to optimize the matchups. Additionally, even though Isaiah Hartenstein is returning from injury, he could be a candidate for the starting lineup in some games where OKC wants to go big.

Forecasts and expectations

There will be no shortage of external expectations for the Thunder this season. After being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last season, the Thunder are among the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this is without a doubt one of the best Thunder squads in franchise history.

What makes Oklahoma City so special is the team's ability to play at an elite level on both ends. Not only are the Thunder one of the best 3-point shooters in the league with great offensive potential, but OKC should also be a top-five defense again. It takes both sides of the ball to be a contending team, and the Thunder have that.

It's hard to get much better than a 57-win season, but Oklahoma City should be better this season. The team's record doesn't necessarily have to be better for the Thunder to be a more dangerous competitor, but you can still expect Oklahoma City to finish somewhere around that 55-27 at the end of the season.

Even in the crowded Western Conference, the Thunder have the most talented roster. For the team's newest players, it's all about luck with injuries and good chemistry.