Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder can be defined by winning 68 games and being the youngest NBA Finals Champion in 48 years.
What did we learn?
OKC’s defense was an all-timer.
The Thunder suffocated opponents from every direction.
Behind their speed, ferocity and togetherness.
When you control the turnovers and easy buckets in transition, you hold the upper advantage in your palm on a nightly basis.
The Thunder had the best defense all season long and that was their waking identity.
They also had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who blossomed into the MVP. SGA mastered the mid-range and getting to the line. Simple as that. He was relentless in his attack going to the basket or pulling up on a dime. SGA was always the backbone of OKC’s offense, leading the entire NBA in points scored.
His partner in crime was Jalen Williams. J-Dub played the Pippen role to a T. As a prolific second scoring option, J-Dub could just as easily take over games and be the best two-way player on the floor. His size, strength, agility and footwork on the defensive end earned him second team All-Defense. J-Dub was also third team All-NBA, giving the Thunder two of the best 15 players in the league.
The Thunder rampaged through the regular season despite missing Chet Holgren, their third best player, for half of it. That’s where the offseason acquisition of Isaiah Hartenstein paid dividends. I-Hart was a key missing component, a capable second big man that they needed from lessons learned in the 2023-24 playoffs.
Speaking of excellent offseason moves, trading Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso was another gold mine. Adding Caruso gave the Thunder yet another defensive stalwart and this one had veteran Championship experience.
The defensive menaces this team could throw at you was ridiculous.
We’re just now getting to Lu Dort, the linebacker with the moonball 3-point shot, first team All-Defense. And his protege, second-year Cason Wallace with the rip-and-run transition steal-to-slam game.
OKC’s consistent dominance and brilliance in the regular season did make some losses stand out and look glaring. There was that late blown lead to the T-Wolves at home and the Lakers stomping them on Sunday afternoon primetime (also in OKC). We couldn’t help but wonder if maybe in spite of all the historic marks, the indications of a clear-cut Champion in the making, would the Thunder roar when it mattered most in the playoffs?
The answer in the first round vs. Memphis was a resounding YES, ripping through the Grizzlies like a steak knife through butter.
The Nuggets were a true test in the second round. A team with Championship experience and a 2-time MVP in Jokic, this was the telling battle.
It might have taken them 7 games and with some heartbreak along the way, but the Thunder advanced after Daigneault pulled the trump card he saved up his sleeve for Game 7: putting Caruso on Jokic. OKC sliced and diced the Nuggets before and after halftime and that was that.
Comparatively, the West Finals were a breeze. Five games was all they needed to shut down and dismantle the one-dimensional T-Wolves and storm onward to The Finals.
The Paul George Finals.
A back and forth roller coaster that actually saw OKC go down 2-1, staring down the barrel of a 10-point deficit late in the third quarter of Game 4, it looked bleak.
But that’s when SGA showed why he was the MVP and the Thunder D locked in. They flipped the script and suddenly out-peski’ed the Pesky Pacers, pulling off the comeback in Pacers style, outscoring Indiana 31 to 17 in the fourth quarter to make the final score look like they won with ease.
Game 5 at OKC — The Thunder rolled at home from the jump.
Game 6 at Indy — Haliburton’s calf looked fine and the Pacers rolled this time, dominating the Thunder in startling fashion.
Game 7 for all the marbles.
And that’s when Hali went down with a torn Achilles in the first quarter…
Yet the Thunder still trailed by one at the half..
3rd quarter. A sequence that put them ahead for good:
SGA made 3
Chet made 3
J-Dub made 3
It was fitting that the 3-ball from their big 3 was what put them over the top for good.
OKC’s swarming defense closed out the Hali-less Pacers and the Thunder were crowned the 2024-25 NBA Champions.
A lot was said about their lack of a celebration. Perhaps Hali going down had something to do with it. The same can be said for being gigantic favorites in the first place.
Perhaps it’s as simple as it was nothing short of what they expected of themselves.
And because they know they are actually just getting started.
The real storm has still just begun.
_____________________________________
Additional Notes
From a record of 24-58 in 2021-22, it’s been a quick rise to the top. This team is still so far ahead of schedule.
Game 2 of the Finals = The Aaron Wiggins game. Wiggins drilled five 3s in 21 minutes off the bench.
We might not have agreed with Mark Daigneault changing the starting lineup for The Finals, but he gets the benefit of the doubt considering the Thunder won 68 games and a Chip.
_____________________________________
Did our preseason Over/Under prediction hit?
The real storm is still just beginning. Over 57.5 wins.
Thunder 2024-25 record: (68-14)
Yes indeed! We’ve known about this forecast.
_____________________________________
What’s Next?
With extensions in place for SGA, J-Dub and Chet, and with the treasure chest of draft picks still sitting in Sam Presti’s office, the Thunder are in excellent position to win now and win later.
Also, it’s Nikola Topic SZN.
OKC has a first rounder from this year’s draft, Thomas Sorber from Georgetown, a 6-10 center to be groomed as their next second big man.
_____________________________________
Favorite Thunder Highlight of the 2024-25 Season:
The MVP.
The Architect.
