Expectations for the Thunder in 2025 are known

The NBA’s Western Conference may be as powerful as ever, but the Oklahoma City Thunder stands out as the supernova. Talent, youth, and offensive and defensive stalwarts bundled together under last season’s Coach of the Year: OKC’s formula is close to unmatched if it isn’t already.

The 2024-25 season will ultimately reveal if last season’s historic win total, culminating in the No. 1 seed in the West, was a one-time dalliance — or a harbinger of things to come.

Finals appearance or bust?

Had they not been only the league’s second 60-win team since 2018, been nearly invincible while storming through the Eastern Conference bracket last spring, and won an NBA championship, the Boston Celtics would have fallen behind the Thunder in the power rankings entering the 2024 season.

For OKC, they have a clear challenger in the way, a team that has set the bar and will test whatever opponent it meets in — likely — another trip to the NBA Finals next season. The Thunder can’t aim for anything less than a finals appearance, according to the majority opinion, co-signed by ClutchPoints writer Ben Cooper.

“Although many talented teams are in the West, Oklahoma City has a deep roster,” he writes . “The Thunder have the star power with Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Holmgren, but the added depth this offseason will be the difference. While Caruso isn't a star, his role as a defender and shooter will help significantly. … The other addition, Hartenstein, should also be an impact player. The development of young players on their bench unit, like Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Jaylin Williams, would help them even more. With this elite roster, the Thunder should make an NBA Finals appearance.”

Tough competition

Before the Thunder can lock their eyes on meeting the defending champs in the championship round, they’ll need to look out for the teams under their nose. Without leaping to the defending West champion Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City cannot dismiss three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, who are just two seasons removed from a dominating title run.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who witnessed the stunning rise of star guard Anthony Edwards in 2023, will see an all-around improvement next season, especially with the core returning intact. The Phoenix Suns — who house two of the NBA’s top 10 players in Devin Booker and Kevin Durant — are entering Year 2 of their roster experiment, and although their posture inexactly resembles the backbone of a team that won 60+ games three seasons ago, they still possess that track record.

And that’s not to dismiss the re-emergers, like the Memphis Grizzlies, who will welcome superstar point guard Ja Morant and possibly college basketball’s best offensive player from a season ago, Zach Edey, to the lineup. Memphis may be as well constructed to lock horns with the Thunder as any other team out West.

OKC’s chemistry experiment will launch next month, and although it is never completely effortless to incorporate multiple new faces to the lineup, the blue and orange have proved throughout the rebuild that it shouldn’t be underestimated on any front.

Related: Where does SGA rank among the best international players ever?