Last Updated on June 24, 2025 3:02 pm by Mike Passador | Published: June 24, 2025

We knew the day would soon come where the Oklahoma City Thunder take over the NBA, and it has finally arrived. From winning a multitude of NBA awards, including the NBA MVP, to achieving a record of 68-14 en route to their first NBA championship, the Thunder put the entire league on notice that they are here to stay. The blueprint was always there for the Thunder; GM Sam Presti’s masterminded the perfect trades over the years, Mark Daigneault developed an all-around juggernaut of a team, and the Thunder’s stars all started to ascend at the same time.

How’d It Go?

Coming into the season, the expectations were through the roof for the Thunder. Many sportsbooks had them as the favorite to win the championship. With coach Mark Daigneault winning Coach of the Year the previous season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fresh off of a First Team All-NBA nod, the Thunder were hungry to prove themselves worthy.

To start the season, the Thunder acquired two huge pieces that would help fill crucial needs for the team. Signing Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason was a great choice, as the Thunder were getting mauled in the rebounding battle against most teams last season. They also traded with the Chicago Bulls, swapping young point guard Josh Giddey for a defensive-minded veteran guard by the name of Alex Caruso. There intentions were clear; the Thunder set out to get a true center and a locker room leader that would help them excel when the playoffs came around.

Now, the Thunder did have to deal with their fair share of injuries.  Hartenstein started off the season sidelined with a hand injury. Luckily, the core players were in great shape and got off to a strong start. They were 8-2 in their first 10 games of the season, when a devastating injury to Chet Holmgren’s hip occurred. It left many wondering if the Thunder were going to be able to keep up the pressure, and they did just that. SGA and Jalen Williams kicked it into overdrive for the rest of the season, earning them both All-Star and All-NBA nods respectively. The team garnered the second highest net rating in NBA history with mind-boggling +12.8 net rating for the season. With everyone being a potential threat on both offense and defense, the Thunder didn’t give room for their opponents to breathe. Their 68-14 record led the NBA and was well deserved.

The Thunder outlasted the Pacers in a thrilling NBA Finals to secure their title and could have a fruitful journey over the next couple of years. Their championship window is wide open with one of the youngest cores in the NBA. GM Sam Presti and the front office control an abundance of assets for future draft picks or trades. Barring any catastrophic injuries, the Thunder can do no wrong on the basketball court. We may in be for a long ride with the next potential dynasty of the NBA.

Coaching

The Thunder had every reason in the world run this season back with former Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault. A leader in the locker room and on the court, Daigneault led the Thunder to their best record ever in the team’s history.

A genius in his own right, Daigneault values strong team defense and fast-paced offense. With the 6th highest pace in the NBA, the Thunder had an offensive rating of 120.3 this season, which ranked third in the NBA.  A combination like this will always require an opposing team to stay on their toes at all time. They really shined on the defensive end of the ball, leading the NBA with a 107.5 defensive rating and causing the most turnovers. Some credit has to be given to the players as well, but it is still hard to deny the impact Daigneault has on this team.

Coaches haven’t been shown a long leash in the NBA over the past few years, but with Daigneault signing a contract extension in 2023, there’s a chance that he may be in Oklahoma City for a long time. A fairly young coach himself, we could be witnessing another legendary coaching career in the making. To be fair, Daigneault is no stranger to making mistakes as a coach, but he compensates for those by being more consistent than his opponents. Daigneault survived the developmental years with the Thunder and is now getting rewarded tenfold for his dedication.

The Players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

ADP: 4.5/4.1 (Yahoo/ESPN) | Total Value: 2/1 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 3/2 (8/9-cat)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now sits at the top of the totem pole in the NBA. The NBA MVP had another marvelous year in fantasy basketball, finishing top-3 once again in all category formats. He is the perfect player to build a well-balanced team around and can shine in a multitude of punt builds as well. SGA is as consistent as they come in fantasy, but this year, he found a way to increase his scoring output to 32.7 PTS while still maintaining the efficiency (51.9% FG and 89.8% FT) that makes him elite. When you are one of the best and as consistent as SGA, a top-4 pick in fantasy drafts in never out of the question. Even if they are slight fluctuations in his value, which can happen, SGA’s floor is so safe to depend upon. Expect another phenomenal season from SGA next year, and if you are lucky enough to have him on your team, enjoy the ride.

Jalen Williams

SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

ADP: 36.1/46.6 (Yahoo/ESPN) | Total Value: 28/28 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 26/24 (8/9-cat)

We are witnessing the ascension of Jalen Williams firsthand. They are two parts to Williams season this year, as he started off the season on fire and cooled off towards the end. The bar was already set high for Williams before the season started, and he did not disappoint, finishing the season with a top-24 per-game showing, an All-Star bid and an eventual Third Team All-NBA and Second Team All-Defense nod.

When Chet Holmgren went down due to injury, Williams went buck wild for the Thunder. He was on an amazing top-10 per-game run, providing strong value for fantasy managers on the back of huge defensive stats and strong efficiency. That dream slowly came back down to Earth, as Williams finished the season posting top-40 value for the reminder of the year. Although that is a little concerning, Williams has hit another gear in the playoffs, including a 40-point game in the NBA Finals, and will only get better over time. He is becoming a hot commodity in the fantasy realm, which means you have to pay a sizable amount of draft capital to acquire Williams next season. Drafting Williams inside the second round at minimum is very possible next season, but it is definitely a worthwhile investment.

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