GMs vote OKC as team with best young core by a landslide

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s accelerated path to championship contention is thanks to their stunning blend of young talent. Since the franchise started from scratch five years ago, it has been routinely ahead of the pack in finding and nurturing players with an elite ceiling.

There is no doubt that general manager Sam Presti has drafted incredibly well in recent years. After he sent off franchise icon Russell Westbrook for future superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a trade with the Houston Rockets, the team architect expertly shelved the building blocks.

Recent draft picks like Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace have flipped the identity of Oklahoma City. With Oklahoma City just now entering its championship window, potentially years of glory lie ahead.

OKC’s trio acknowledged as the best once again

The Blue and Orange’s young talent can’t go unnoticed — not by fans and executives around the association. The NBA recently conducted its annual GM survey, which polled the experts on various categories, from which team will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season to the best player at each position.

While the Thunder topped several intriguing categories, one stood out in particular. Asked which team possesses the best “young core” in the NBA, the GMs made it clear: OKC is the best in the business. Garnering a whopping 60% of the votes, the Bricktown boys landed the No. 1 spot over the Orlando Magic (20%) and the Rockets (10%).

Oklahoma City also earned the top spot in the GM survey conducted ahead of the 2023-24 season, with a jaw-dropping 73% of the votes. With how quickly the franchise has risen to the top, even casual observers have taken note of the young talent on the roster.

Spearheaded by rising stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, all aged 26 or younger, the team prepares for years of being among the teams in the hunt for a title. 57 wins in 2023 announced the Thunder’s arrival as a legitimate bunch. After an offseason of striking moves, the franchise catapulted in the power rankings leading up to the 2024 season. OKC’s expectations have suddenly gone from the playoffs to the NBA Finals.

Related: IHart and I-Joe could create the next lethal Thunder combo