The biggest reason to watch the Thunder next season

The 2024-25 NBA season moves closer for one of the rapidly improved teams in the association. Riding the momentum of a shining offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter their championship-or-bust sprint this October.

With its new additions coupled with the intrigue of watching stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren reach the next level, it’s fair to say that there is plenty of incentive to watch Oklahoma City. As the reigning No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they are now the hunted instead of the hunters .

One reason to watch the Thunder in 2024–25

In a recent Bleacher Report article, writer Dan Favale gave one reason that fans should want to watch each team next season. For Thunder fans, saying “one reason” doesn’t suffice, as the force field surrounding the team delivers not one but many reasons to turn on OKC basketball.

However, the writer describes the Thunder as one that “might be the most complete team in the league.” Wouldn’t that qualify them as not one of, but the team to watch in 2024?

“What's the weakness in that rotation? Hartenstein takes care of the size, physicality, and rebounding concerns from last season. Caruso puts a deadeye modest-volume shooter defenses will actually respect in the Josh Giddey spot. Secondary creation could be a little prickly. We saw that haunt Oklahoma City during the playoffs, where Jalen Williams couldn't really get going. Neither Caruso nor Hartenstein fills that void,” writes Favale.

The pretty obvious answer

To put things together, there is really one big reason why the Thunder should be the most followed team next season: they are a young team with championship aspirations. For comparison, the Thunder of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden became one of the most sought-after teams in the public eye after Oklahoma City went through years of losing. As a result, they began racking up national TV games and earned recognition as one of the most lethal teams in the league. Well, it’s the same for today’s Thunder roster.

With an MVP candidate as the franchise’s epicenter and a Rookie of the Year runner-up, all while they set out to defend their throne as the No. 1 seed in West, Oklahoma City has plenty to prove next season, starting with how well they show naysayers that the 2023–24 season was not a fluke.

Increased fanfare for the team will come naturally next season. After being the talk of basketball all summer, everyone is going to want to know how special this team is and can be moving forward. Analysts pointed to the Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein transactions as the highlights of the summer and fans will tune in to see how these two can elevate OKC’s point of attack.

Related: Chet excited to play with Thunder newcomer Hartenstein in OKC