The 2024-25 NBA season was a historic one for the Oklahoma City Thunder, culminating in their first NBA championship since 1979 (when they were the Seattle SuperSonics) and their first in the Oklahoma City era.
The Good
Historic Championship Run:
The Thunder finished the regular season with a 68-14 record, tying for the fifth-most wins in NBA history, and clinched the best record in the league, earning the Maurice Podoloff Trophy and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They went 29-1 against Eastern Conference teams, the best inter-conference record ever, with their only loss on the road against Cleveland.
In the playoffs, they swept the Memphis Grizzlies (4-0, including a record-setting 131–80 Game 1 victory), defeated the Denver Nuggets (4-1), and closed out the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1) in the Western Conference Finals. They won the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers in seven games, becoming the second-youngest team to win a championship (average age 25.6, behind only the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers).
Their 84 total wins (regular season and playoffs) tied the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for the third-most in a single season, and they set an NBA record for cumulative point differential (+1,243 points).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Dominance:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025 NBA MVP award, the scoring title (32.7 points per game), and Finals MVP, becoming the first player in 25 years to achieve this trifecta in one season. He averaged 30.3 points, 12 assists, two blocks, and a steal in the Finals’ Game 7, despite shooting 8-of-27, showcasing his clutch playmaking. His postseason performance included 12 games with at least 30 points and five assists, a historical record.
Elite Defense and Balanced Offense:
The Thunder ranked first in defensive rating and third in offensive rating (119.2), with a league-record point differential of 12.9 points per game, surpassing the 1971-72 Lakers’ 12.3. They led the league in steals (10.2 per 100 possessions in the regular season, 10.7 in the playoffs) and points off turnovers, reflecting their swarming, disruptive style.
Offensively, they played at the league’s fastest pace (100.90), ranked seventh in field goal percentage, sixth in three-point percentage, and first in free-throw percentage, while attempting fewer threes (10th in the league) to focus on drives and transition.
Youth and Depth:
With an average roster age of 25.6, the Thunder were the youngest team in the league, yet every rotation player was under contract for 2025-26, providing stability. Key contributors included Jalen Williams (a two-way star and All-Defensive selection), Lu Dort (elite defender), and Chet Holmgren (a versatile “unicorn”).
Strategic acquisitions like Alex Caruso (traded for Josh Giddey) and Isaiah Hartenstein bolstered their defense and frontcourt. Caruso, a two-time All-Defensive Team member, led the league in deflections, while Hartenstein provided muscle off the bench.
The bench, including Isaiah Joe (re-signed for four years, $48M) and Aaron Wiggins, provided scoring and flexibility. Rookies Nikola Topić, Dillon Jones, and Ajay Mitchell added depth, with Topić a lottery pick who missed the season due to injury but holds future promise.
Roster Flexibility and Future Assets:
GM Sam Presti’s rebuild, completed in six years, left the Thunder with 13 first-round picks over the next seven drafts, offering flexibility to add veterans or stars. This war chest positions them for sustained contention, potentially rivaling the Spurs’ dynasty.
Their ability to maintain a 70-win pace despite injuries to Holmgren (hip, missed eight weeks) and Hartenstein (missed 15 games) underscored their depth and resilience.
The Bad
Injury Challenges:
Chet Holmgren’s hip injury sidelined him for eight weeks, and Isaiah Hartenstein missed the first 15 games, leaving the Thunder short-handed in the frontcourt. Despite going 11-3 without Holmgren, these injuries exposed vulnerabilities in their center rotation.
Jalen Williams required surgery for a March wrist ligament tear, managed through the playoffs, which could impact his offseason preparation.
The team’s ability to win 68 games despite being top-five in games lost to injury was remarkable, but highlighted the physical toll of their fast-paced style.
Free-Throw Disparity and Schedule Rigor:
The Thunder faced the largest free-throw differential in 20 years, ranking first in drives but 30th in free-throw rate, suggesting officiating challenges. They also had the most back-to-back games and 13 of 15 national TV games on the road, adding to their physical and logistical strain as a small-market team.
Despite their dominance, they were underrepresented in marquee game slates (e.g., no Christmas Day or MLK Day games), likely due to their small-market status, limiting their national exposure.
Playoff Pressure and Close Calls:
Despite their regular-season dominance, the Thunder were pushed to seven games twice in the playoffs, including the Finals against a resilient Pacers team. This indicates that their youth and relative lack of playoff experience (compared to past champions) made them vulnerable in high-stakes moments.
Their Game 7 Finals win was complicated by Indiana’s loss of Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury early in the game, suggesting luck played a role in their championship.
Potential Long-Term Financial Constraints:
The NBA’s new apron rules could limit the Thunder’s ability to maintain their elite depth long-term, as high payrolls (like the Warriors’ during their dynasty) may face restrictions. This poses a risk to their dynasty aspirations, despite their draft capital.
