Following a 24-58 record in the 2021-22 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder improved by 16 and then 17 wins in the following two seasons, ultimately finishing first in the Western Conference standings during the 2023-24 campaign at 57-25 overall. Any team increasing its win total by 33 games over the course of two seasons is extremely rare, but isn’t surprising given how Oklahoma City has conducted its rebuild.
With the 2024-25 season ahead, the Thunder certainly won’t make another leap of that magnitude. Improving the team’s win total by 16 games would mean winning 73 games, which would match the Golden State Warriors’ record set in the 2015-16 campaign.
While Oklahoma City shouldn’t be expected to achieve that level of success, there is reason to believe the Thunder could see significant improvement from last season.
To be clear, OKC could win less than 57 games this season and still be a better team than it was last season. There are so many factors that impact a team’s record over 82 games, including injuries and chemistry. But the Thunder has taken its roster from last season — which was one of the best in the league — and made it much more complete on paper.
Most notably, Oklahoma City added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, both of which seem to be perfect fits within the Thunder’s scheme on both ends. Caruso was acquired via a trade that sent Josh Giddey to Chicago, while Hartenstein was signed as the biggest free agent in OKC history.
Not only should the Thunder have a better roster during the regular season than it did in the 2023-24 campaign, but this team should be even more dynamic in the postseason. When thinking about Oklahoma City’s weaknesses and struggles in the playoffs earlier this year, it came down to perimeter shooting, interior size, wing defenders and rebounding. Each of those concerns has been addressed, giving the Thunder a roster built for a championship.
Hartenstein addresses the size concern given he’s a 7-footer with a 250-pound frame. He brings remarkable rebounding production and connective passing upside to a team that moves the ball well already. He has also shown earlier in his career that he can step out to the perimeter and knock down triples when needed. The former New York Knicks center will also provide upside as a screener that this OKC team hasn’t had for quite some time.