Key Storylines: Why 2025 Could Be the Summer of Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams will lead the hungry Thunder.

• Get NBA League Pass TODAY >

We're counting down 24 key storylines for the 2024-25 NBA season. Our senior analysts will analyze a new topic each day as we help you prepare for opening night on October 22nd.

Here's the plot No. 10:

The Thunder will win plenty of regular season games, but are they equipped for postseason success?

There is none'There aren't many, if any, teams in better shape than the Thunder. They have a strong front office, an MVP candidate, a handful of young players with future All-Star potential, the reigning Coach of the Year, plenty of draft capital and (for now) room within the salary cap.

It'It's rare for a team to have all of this. From top to bottom, OKC is built to last, built to win, say, 60 games this season. The'That's realistic.

And a championship? Well, why not?

Leave aside any unforeseen speed limits — Injuries, bad luck, yada — OKC fits every definition of a contender. Yes, they didn't make it last season despite being No. 1 in the West, but this is a necessary step on an up-and-coming team's development and education.

And Sam Presti has only improved the lineup since then.

Let'Let's look at how they fit into the postseason, where the space gets smaller, every series is best of seven and opposing teams' Scouting reports are much more sophisticated.

The Thunder were one of the best 3-point shooting teams last season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a certified handful. These two assets are crucial in such an environment. There'That's something else — recovered — where OKC was lacking. With the signing of center Isaiah Hartenstein, they made the biggest signing of the summer (literally) after making a breakthrough with the Knicks.

Defense? Imagine a team where Lu Dort and Chet Holmgren add Alex Caruso in a trade. The'There are three All-Defense candidates on one team.

OKC can play in the halfcourt and up-tempo with Jalen Williams, and the bench is productive. Well, now it's time'It depends on what OKC can do't control: matchups and hot streaks.

First, take the second: Sometimes the hottest team in the playoffs trumps the better team. Look at the Miami Heat a few years ago and several other teams before that. Even last season, the Mavericks made a midseason trade, caught fire, and reached the NBA Finals over OKC. It happens.

As far as matchups go, the Thunder might face Nikola Jokic in another MVP-like spectacle, or face the Mavs again (this time with Klay Thompson), or face the defending champion Celtics in June.

There are no sure things this season, not even for OKC. Yet the signs of thunder are clear and distinct'What opportunities do they have and how well do they perform compared to others? The road to the west will likely cross the Panhandle. It wouldn't surprise anyone if 2025 became the Summer of Thunder.

* * *

Shaun Powell has been covering the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Herefind his archive here And Follow him on X.

The views on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.