Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder surprised the league and surpassed all expectations. Not only did they place first in the highly competitive Western Conference, but they became the youngest team in NBA history to do so. Now, experts believe the Thunder are bound to do it again.
In a recent poll conducted by Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey, he listed out the win-loss rankings for every NBA team for the 2024-25 season, and Bailey placed the OKC Thunder with the second best record behind the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.
The ranking had the Thunder going 55-27, falling two wins short of their win total from last season. While OKC improved their roster by signing Hartenstein and trading Giddey for Caruso, Bailey went on to explain why the Thunder will find it difficult to achieve the same success:
"But again, wins are going to be a nightmare to come by in the West. So, even if OKC is improved, it won't necessarily exceed 2023-24's win total".
This is very true, as teams like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Kings, Suns, Grizzlies, and Lakers are all formidable opponents with All-Star level player(s). However, Loud City just had a taste of playoff basketball for the first time since 2020, and with increased experience and tight-nit chemistry, there is no reason why the Thunder cannot achieve and even surpass expectations.