30 days/30 teams: Oklahoma City Thunder

68 wins in the regular season, then a ring at the end of the breathtaking playoffs: Oklahoma City will not forget the 2024-25 season. The Thunder hoisted their first Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of Game 7 against the Pacers, the conclusion of a glorious practice. Having become the new head of the NBA, OKC must now assert its status. Of all the recent champions, he may be the one who ticks the most boxes for a possible dynasty. A league MVP leader, a team still in development and a future already solidly built after spending $822 million this summer to extend its stars: all the pillars are in place. All that remains is for him to prove himself on the dance floor with a very difficult “back to back” challenge.

Ask the Lakers in 2021, the Bucks in 2022, the Nuggets in 2024, or the Celtics last season. All of these champions could do it again, with much of the lineup preserved. But they all encountered different obstacles, from injuries to forms of decompression after first reaching the Grail. This is the pinnacle of the challenge that awaits men Mark Daigneault.

His group remains unchanged, still led by his trio extended to 2031 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Jalen Williams – Chet Holmgren and a host of complementary players who are all very well integrated into their roles. At 27, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is entering the prime of his career. The Canadian has steadily improved year-on-year so far, it remains to be seen what he has in store for his recovery, adding a serious outside shot to his arsenal in recent months. Les Jalen Williams (24 years old), Chet Holmgren (23 years old), Cason Wallace (21 years) or Ajay Mitchell (age 23) are also on the rise in their young careers and could bring another piece to OKC’s puzzle.

However, it seems that this is not really needed. Exhausting defensively and terrifying in transition, this Thunder is a steamroller that opponents have yet to find a permanent solution against.

Marc Daigneault will undoubtedly take some lessons from the last playoff game in which the Nuggets and Pacers went all the way to Game 7. Oklahoma City can significantly improve its half-court game against teams that could manage to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Another step that could lead this team to a first double from the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. For the most superstitious, a rookie injury Thomas Sorber reminds that from Nikola Topic a year earlier, he was also forced to wait a season before his NBA debut.

SUMMER MOVEMENTS

arrivals: Brooks Barnheiser (draft, 2-way), Thomas Sorber (draft), Chris Youngblood (2-way)

Departures: Dillon Jones

PLAYER TO WATCH: JALEN WILLIAMS

We left him in euphoria, championship trophy in hand a few minutes after Game 7. Jaylen Williams revealed the thrill of the title, a rare accomplishment for a player in just his third season and already key to his team’s success.

“J-Dub” has established himself as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s right-hand man, a defensive wing keeper and an increasingly reliable forward. He surpassed 30 points ten times in the 2024/25 season, more than in the first two seasons combined. And his rise has undoubtedly just begun.

A newly minted All-Star, he is now one of those players who is expected to bring his twenty points, five rebounds and as many assists night after night. Now he must establish himself as the offensive boss on an even more regular basis, the one often paired with bench players to hold the Thunder when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander slows down. This will significantly include a bit more regularity in his outside shooting, a rare area where he seemed to regress last season (42.7% on 3-pointers in 2023-2024, 36.5% in 2024-2025 and 30.4% in the playoffs). His wrist surgery over the summer could take some time before he’s back to full capacity. But the Thunder will need their wing in search of a double.

Average age: 25.1 years

Payroll: $188.8 million (16th)

IDEAL SCENARIO

What could be better in Oklahoma City after the romance of recent months? The Thunder have found a style of play that fits their team perfectly and have all the ingredients on hand to sustain their insane momentum. This, while most of his workforce only needs to mechanically raise their level of play by gaining experience. OKC had such an advantage over the competition (16 wins over second place Houston in the regular season…) that finishing with a less than stellar record should be enough to stay atop the West.

As long as this team stays on track in terms of game philosophy, it seems safe from a major disappointment. And his torrid run during the last playoffs should bolster him just a little bit more for possible turnarounds in the season. Pejcom Center should be able to roar with pleasure for quite some time to come.

WORST SCENARIO

The Thunder may have reigned supreme in the 2024/25 season, but their room to maneuver has proven to be less in the closing stages. And its competitors in the West, the Nuggets and Rockets in advantage, stepped up during the summer. Be careful not to fall for the easy way that can quickly backfire against teams where confidence can turn into overconfidence or even complacency, even if OKC’s locker room appears to be functioning well.

The team is too tight for injuries to affect the Thunder too much. But the examples of the Celtics with Jayson Tatum or the Pacers with Tyrese Haliburton remind us how much success can change with a twist of fate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been mostly injury-free the past two seasons, a far cry from the previous three years. OKC’s dependence on its leader remains significant and could be one of the reigning champions’ few vulnerabilities.