Coming off an impressive 22/23 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to reach new heights with their young talent. They are scheduled to tip off on the road against the Chicago Bulls on October 25 and the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 27, before returning home to play the defending champs, the Denver Nuggets, at the Paycom Center on Sunday, October 29.
Last season, the Thunder won 40 games and lost 42 which was way higher than initially predicted. With their rebuilding phase beginning in 2021, the Thunder may not have been expected to be a top contender in the Western Conference in the short term. However, with the rapid development of these young players and new draft picks, their future is looking promising.
With a young core group of guys, the Thunder are determined to make it to the playoffs this season after just coming up short last season. Shai Gilgeous Alexander leads this team, averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, playing in 64 games this past season. Alongside him, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort will be key contributors to the success of this team.
Chet Holmgren had his rookie season cut short due to a foot injury that made him miss the entire season. The 7-foot-1 center will be looking to have a big impact and play a significant role on this team. Jalen Williams, a second-year rookie out of Arizona, had an outstanding first year in the league, named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team.
Lauryn Reither, an Oklahoma City native, has been a Thunder fan since 2008. When asked about her fanship, Reither said, “When they first came to OKC is when I first started to love the game of basketball, so I was able to watch it more and have a passion for it.”
She continued expressing her excitement while saying, “This year I am most excited to see how much the young core has improved as individuals and together as a team. Also, with a few new additions to the lineup, it will be fun to see them shock the NBA.”
Australian-born guard, Josh Giddey, is about to begin his third season with the Thunder. When asked about this year’s upcoming season, he said, “I am very excited for this year. I think we have a great bunch of guys that all have the same goal in mind, which is to make the playoffs.”
Fans can expect to see a fun and talented team with an electric atmosphere at the Paycom Center on Sunday, October 29. It is going to be a great season!
Photo by Edgar Chaparro on Unsplash