Warming up for the season: Here are the top 3 Thunder dunks in 2023-24

The 3-point shot may have propelled the NBA to new heights. But the thrill of watching the game’s uber-athletic players whizz past their defender and stun us with their striking leaping ability will always stand the test of time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a perimeter-oriented team, as evidenced by their 2023 season, in which they finished No. 1 in shooting percentage from beyond the arc. While that may be the case, don’t completely write off moments where some players showed off their flashy pogo sticks.

Cleared for takeoff

This is one of those you just had to have been there for.

There’s nothing like watching a wirey seven-footer float through the air in front of the home crowd. Chet Holmgren, who had himself a night, tallying 35 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, sent several bolts of lightning throughout the Paycom Center on poster dunk.

Catching a pass in stride from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the star center wasn’t going to allow one guy — who was several inches shorter than him — to prevent him from locking his knees and exploding for a sledgehammer. The two points were a momentum-shifter early in the third quarter.

Out of his way

Down 10 points. Inside a ravenous Madison Square Garden, hailed the greatest arena in the NBA. In need of a boost of adrenaline, there were a lot of ways the Thunder could have relit the fire underneath them, but Jalen Williams only saw one way. Sprinting up the court and delivering a wakening forearm to his defender, “J-Dub,” with reckless abandon, zapped New York’s energy and put it in his team.

Ignoring the three Knicks jerseys in the paint, Jalen scored arguably two of his most emphatic points on the season. And for an added bonus, he captured the “oohs” and “aahs” of the Garden.

Not the right business decision

Oklahoma City had numerous rim-rattling dunks throughout an impressive 57-win season. Many could have struck the top spot, but leaving the springy Isaiah Joe off this list wouldn’t be just.

The typically shooting-minded guard wanted to let the world know he could elevate with the best of them. With a numbers advantage on a two-on-one fast break, it would have been simple to shovel a pass to the sprinting Lu Dort on the left wing.

Instead, Joe took a couple of steps inside the dotted half-line and lept so high that his midsection reached head-level with the 6-foot-8 Jeff Green.

Green thought he was in a position to draw an offensive foul. Joe thought he was in a position to reach for the stars and bring down the house, which made the play good for many highlight reels.

Related: Analyst gives two conditions for the Thunder to win next season’s title