Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player to win the scoring title, regular-season Kia MVP and Finals MVP since 2000. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
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2024-25 Record: 68-14 (1st in West, won NBA championship)
It was a historic season in Oklahoma City, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earning Kia MVP honors while leading the Thunder to its second consecutive top seed in the Western Conference and wrapping up the season with the franchise’s first NBA title in the OKC era.
The Thunder set a plethora of records on their way to a title and now begin the tough task of becoming the NBA’s first repeat champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-18.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (extension), Chet Holmgren (extension), Ajay Mitchell, Jalen Williams (extension), Jaylin Williams (extension)
- Additions: N/A
- Draft: Thomas Sorber (18th pick), Brooks Barnhizer (44th pick)
- Departures: Dillon Jones (trade)
- Unsigned Free Agents: N/A
The Thunder is taking an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach to its title defense, as they return 95% of their minutes from last season’s championship team, including all of the top 13 players in minutes per game. The three-headed monster of Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren are locked in with long-term contract extensions over the offseason.
Joining the rotation this year will be Nikola Topić, the 12th pick in the 2024 Draft, who will play after missing last season with an ACL injury. OKC’s other rookie this season, Thomas Sorber (No. 18 pick in 2025), is out for the season with an ACL injury of his own suffered in an offseason workout.
OKC was the youngest team in the NBA last season and still managed to post the highest-ever point differential and most double-digit wins in a season in NBA history. This season’s squad adds another year of experience and a championship run under its belt to a roster that only features two players older than 27 in Alex Caruso and Kenrich Williams. With General Manager Sam Presti still overseeing a war chest of draft picks to add depth, OKC is in a great spot to compete for more titles for the next few years.
Best of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Best of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the 2025 NBA Playoffs
X-factor
Jalen Williams. He is emerging as a budding superstar entering his fourth season.
The No. 12 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft earned his first All-Star appearance last season and added to his accolades with All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team nods.
He increased his scoring (21.6) and assist (5.1) averages for the third consecutive season and proved he could be a go-to scorer when Gilgeous-Alexander rested or was struggling. His 40-point eruption in Game 5 of the NBA Finals was his arrival as a household name.
At just 24 years old, he still has room to get better.
> Watch Jalen Williams on NBA League Pass
One key question
Can the Thunder repeat its suffocating defense?
Gilgeous-Alexander’s contributions on the offensive end are a given at this point following three consecutive All-NBA seasons, and Williams and Holmgren continue to grow in their own roles offensively. A big contributor to the Thunder’s championship run was an innate ability to turn defense into offense, finishing with an NBA-record +566 turnover differential on the season.
Three different OKC players finished in the top seven in steals in the NBA: Gilgeous Alexander, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace. Add those names to a rotating frontcourt with Caruso and Lu Dort, and OKC presents one of the NBA’s fiercest defenses. Now that they have a title, though, will the Thunder bring that same defensive intensity each night?
When OKC lost last season, it was because it wasn’t forcing turnovers that fuel its game-changing scoring runs. But, when they do, opponents must take care of the ball if they want to unseat the reigning champs.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Thunder:
“To say OKC was the best team in the NBA would be an understatement. Not only did they have a league-best 68-14 record, but they went on to win their first title in franchise history. It’s rare to see a team rebuild in such a short amount of time, but that’s just what this franchise did. They did it the right way too, riding their young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Gilgeous-Alexander had one of the best seasons in NBA history, winning MVP and Finals MVP while leading the league with 32.7 points per game. They were also the top-rated defense in the NBA, and many believe they had one of the greatest defenses in NBA history. All of those weapons are back for another run, and it’ll be interesting to see if this team can turn a rebuild into a dynasty. ”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 5 vs. Hornets (5 ET, League Pass)
- Regular Season/Home Opener: Oct. 21 vs. Rockets (7:30 ET, NBC & Peacock)
- Emirates NBA Cup West Group A Play: Nov. 7 at Kings (10 ET, League Pass), Nov. 21 at Jazz (10 ET, League Pass), Nov. 26 vs. Timberwolves (7:30 ET, ESPN), Nov. 28 at Suns (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- NBA Christmas Day: Dec. 25 vs. Spurs (2:30 ET, ABC & ESPN)
- MLK Day: Jan. 19 at Cavaliers (2:30 ET, NBC & Peacock)
- Rivals Week: Jan. 21 at Bucks (9:30 ET, ESPN), Jan 23 vs. Pacers (9:30 ET, Prime)
What they’re saying
David Aldridge, The Athletic: “Oklahoma City isn’t resting on its championship laurels. It quickly tied up SGA, Jalen Williams and Holmgren for a cool $750-plus million. There could be a financial reckoning as soon as the summer of 2027, when the Williams/Holmgren extensions kick in, and the Thunder have club options on Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort. But the next two seasons are set … The Thunder’s poised to run this league for a bit.” (Read More)
